Bereavement Services
Our Bereavement Services are offered to the families we serve and open to the public.
Coffee
&Conversation
Tuesday Mornings at 8am
Riverside Family Restaurant
This is a great place to meet with other men and women who are experiencing loss of a loved one.
Meet
&Eat
Every third Monday of the month at 5pm at Pizza Ranch in Ottumwa
This is your opportunity to socialize with others who are also in mourning.
Walking Through Grief
Thursday at 9am at the Bridge View Center
Grief is one of life’s most stressful events. To keep that stress from building up and to increase your body's production of endorphins, you need to do some "body work". Walking is one the easiest forms of exercise that helps fight depression and brings increased health benefits.
Grief Share
This group that meets for 13 weeks. Dates/Times TBA.
Here you will find a warm, caring environment as you learn about grief through, video, group discussion and journaling. Don’t hesitate to call with questions.
Additional Bereavement Services
In addition to our weekly groups, we also offer...
Activity Hour
This group is held six times per year beginning in February. Meeting every other month. This support group offers support, information, and reflection through hands on activities.
Grief Education
This group is a multi-session group that provides education support for people desiring support and information about the grief process. Sign-up information will be mailed prior to the start of the group.
Bereavement Counseling
One to two individual supportive counseling sessions by appointment for anyone experiencing a uncomplicated grief response.
Memorial Service
Hospice holds a memorial service twice a year to remember patients who Hospice has cared for who passed away in the previous 6 months. This particular event is specific to families only and not open to the public. Families will be notified by mail.
Bereavement Care
And Why It Matters...
Loss and grief are fundamental to human life. The consequences of the loss of a loved one will vary for each individual. But it can range from mental and physical health problems, insomnia, substance misuse, depression, suppressed immune function, hypertension, as well as work and social impairment.
Society does not often allow individuals enough time to mourn their losses and many people do not have a clear concept of what grief is. This combination can leave the griever at a loss to understand the emotions and reactions that follow death of a loved one. It has been shown that education about grief and support during the mourning period can help answer emotional questions before he become problematic.
Grief
What is it anyway?
Grief is a normal response to change and the death of a loved one is a major change in our lives. Grief elicits a variety of responses; which can be physical, emotional, spiritual and psychological in nature. These response are unique to each person.
Grief intervention is important and effective for bereaved individuals. Bereavement support helps the bereaved:
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Connect with their family and community of care
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Identify and reinforce coping skills and positive achievements
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Identify internal and external strengths and resources
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Draw upon experience and support of other bereaved individuals
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Gain comfort from talking or thinking about the deceased
Anticipatory Grief
Hospice's Bereavement Services begins with anticipatory grief and continues for 13 months after the death of a loved one. Anticipatory grief is the grief reaction that occurs in anticipation of an impending loss. Anticipatory grief is experience by both the families and loved ones of a dying individual and is also experienced by the patient as well. Aspects of anticipatory grief include depression, heightened concern for the dying person, rehearsal of the death, attempts to adjust to the consequences of death. Anticipatory grief provides the family and the patient with time to gradually absorb the reality of the loss. Individuals are able to complete unfinished business with the dying person.
With Hospice at your side we ensure that the bereavement needs reflect the needs of each bereaved individual. Bereavement Support Services include two types of activities:
1. Universal Activities: targeted to all bereaved individuals
2. Specialized bereavement support activities, targeted to those individuals who are in need of additional support.
Events
Multiple DatesTue, Oct 15OttumwaOct 15, 2024, 6:00 PM – Dec 10, 2024, 7:00 PMOttumwa, 927 E Pennsylvania Ave, Ottumwa, IA 52501, USAGrief Share is a multi-session support group. This is an educational group for people desiring support and information about the grief process. We meet every Tuesday at 6pm at the Hospice House. For more information or questions please contact our Bereavement Coordinator.
Multiple DatesTue, Dec 10Riverside RestaurantDec 10, 2024, 8:00 AM – 9:00 AMRiverside Restaurant, 1317 E Mary St #2, Ottumwa, IA 52501, USAThis group meets every Tuesday at 8am at Riverside Restaurant in Ottumwa.For more information or questions please contact our Bereavement Coordinator: Vicki Proctor at 641-682-0684.
Multiple DatesMon, Dec 16OttumwaDec 16, 2024, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PMOttumwa, 1791 Venture Dr, Ottumwa, IA 52501, USAMeet-N-Eat is a monthly group open to anyone who is grieving, offering an opportunity to socialize with others who are also mourning. Meeting on the third Monday of every month at 5:00pm at Pizza Ranch in Ottumwa. For more information or questions please contact our Bereavement Coordinator: 682-0684