Archive for August, 2022

Hospice Grief Awareness Day 2022

Tammy Zwhar, LPC, Grief Counselor, Houston Hospice

Tammy Zwahr, LPC, Houston Hospice

During your bereavement process, there is no right or wrong way to grieve. However, by understanding the stages and types of hospice grief awareness, perhaps you can find healthier ways to cope.

Grief is the natural and expected reaction to the loss of a loved one, and feelings of sadness, yearning, guilt, regret, and anger are normal.

Bereavement is the period after a loss during which you experience grief.

A quality bereavement care program will help you understand how you are responding to loss and provide support to help you deal with your grief. Reactions that people experience can be physical, emotional, social, and spiritual in nature. Common emotional reactions can include anger, guilt, anxiety, sadness, and despair. Physical reactions can include sleeping problems, changes in appetite, physical problems, or illness. It’s important to remember that no two people will respond to a loss in exactly the same way, according to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Program’s Caring Info.

 

The five stages of grief – Kübler-Ross Grief Cycle

 

Denial: “This can’t be happening to me.”

Anger: Why is this happening? Who is to blame?”

Bargaining: “Make this not happen, and in return I will ____.”

Depression: “I’m too sad to do anything.”

Acceptance: “I’m at peace with what happened.”

 

Hospice bereavement services can range from support groups, memorial services, informational and educational resources, counseling, and referrals to appropriate therapeutic and community resources.  The needs of each person receiving bereavement support can vary depending on their situation. Hospice bereavement programs facilitate healthy grieving and aim to prevent grief-related health and mental health problems.

“As a bereavement counselor, I travel with families through their hard work of grief,” said Tammy R. Zwahr, LPC, Houston Hospice (pictured). “I have been observing their healing and progress for the past 10 years. Watching the bereaved go from devastation to resilience is a beautiful thing. One family member, who attended our group counseling sessions for several months said that bereavement is the member of the hospice team that helps bring people back to life. It is an honor to witness their transformation.” Zwahr continued.

The Houston Hospice Bereavement Team offers individualized bereavement support for the loved ones of our patients, for up to 13 months after the death of their loved one. This can include phone support, written information normalizing grief and loss, support groups and counseling as needed. Call 713-HOSPICE or 713-677-7115 for more information.

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