Grief Series and Workshops

If you are interested in attending, or would like more information, please contact our Bereavement Department at (540) 536-5210. We look forward to hearing from you. Not sure if this group is right for you? Check with our Bereavement Department professionals for offerings that may better suit your needs.

Bereavement Department Events No one is immune to loss, not even children. Children often feel alone during grief and adults facing the same losses often don't know where to turn for help. In the summer 0f 2006, Blue Ridge Hospice presented a one-day camp to help children face the grieving process.

Children coping with death can visit camp

By Jessica J. Burchard
The Winchester Star
July 30, 2007

Winchester — A one-day camp aims to give youths and their families space to cope with death through art, music, and discussion. Blue Ridge Hospice is scheduled to host its second Camp Hope for children on Aug. 18. The camp, at Winchester Academy, centers on offering a range of activities for youths 6 to 16.“It’s education; it’s support,” said Lynn Gray, director of clinical services. “It’s letting them reminisce about their loss.”

While many programs exist for adults to talk about loss, one for children is relatively new. Last year, 37 youngsters attended; a similar number is expected at the free camp this year.“The entire purpose of the camp is to teach coping skills, while telling [children] they can deal with it,” Gray said. “As they go through different milestones, how do they make it through with that person missing.”

All students and parents will be asked to portray their lost loved one on a tapestry square beginning at 9:15 a.m. Later in the day, the pieces will be sewn together into a full tapestry. Other full group activities include coloring, drawing, and working on puzzles. The remaining exercises are age specific with 6- to 8-, 9- to 12-, and 13- to 16-year-olds in separate groups. Children will work in smaller groups from 9:40 a.m. until about 3 p.m.

For youngest participants, the exercises are more group-centered. Gray sited the share/ care/feelings practice as being beneficial to those under 10. Students will stand in a circle passing around a plastic ball with different feeling phrases written on it.“They pick out the phrases they identify with written on the ball,” she said. “And then they pass it onto the next person.” Each child gets a turn to choose and phrase and talk about it if they wish. The middle groups focus on writing — emotion cards, a letter to a loved one and do a remembrance activity. Teenagers are allowed more personal and artistic individuality with a collages, teen journals, and song lyric analysis.

Music therapist Kristen Hawkins will work with teenagers on finding songs that reflect their feelings of loss.“We’ll apply some songs with lyrics about grief and moving on,” said Hawkins, a second-year therapist with hospice. “We’ll probably also do some songwriting activities.” Music therapy is used in all types of hospice care. Hawkins sees many advantages to using it with youths who have suffered losing someone.“With music, they don’t have to talk about it if they don’t want to,” she said. “It’s also very cathartic.”

Camp Hope also gives students the resources to make their own instruments. Some may choose to make a small drum they can keep in their room and beat on when feeling frustrated or alone.
“They just kind of let the kids do what they need to do,” Gray said. “Whether it’s loud angry music or soft music.” The continuation of a children’s bereavement program is something Gray expects will remain a part of the hospice’s offerings.“It’s all patient-driven care,” she said. “As a hospice, we’ve always felt we needed a children’s bereavement camp.”

For more information on how to register, contact Blue Ridge Hospice at 540-536-5210 or online at www.blueridgehospice.org. Registrations can also be done at the door.

Back to Top

Bereavement / Remembrance Ceremony

Hospice honors those who were cared for November 6, 2006, Winchester Star

WINCHESTER — It was a day once again to say goodbye to loved ones in Christ Episcopal Church.
The Blue Ridge Hospice held its annual Remembrance Day on Sunday, a chance for families and friends of those who died in the hospice over the past year to “gather together to give thanks for their presence among us, to grieve their death, to affirm the ongoing love we have for them, and to rejoice in the gifts they have shared with us,” according to the program for the service.

This is a time for us to remember those we have taken care of,” said Ernie Carnevale in his greeting to the audience of approximately 100. “This is a time to greet the families and the caregivers of these people and to remember those we love and miss so badly.” The service consisted of three poem readings, several musical selections, and, in lieu of a sermon, the reading of the names of more than 300 hospice patients who passed away in the past year.

Among those names read was that of Donald Myers, who died on Nov. 28, 2005. Myers’ wife, Ann, came to the service, which she said provided her with a sense of community. “This has been really super great,” she said. “I came here for remembrance and as a way to honor his life and what he meant to all of us.” Mrs. Myers was joined by her husband’s mother, Blanche, and his sister, Dolores O’Day, who remembered growing up with him when their parents divorced.

“He was a great family man,” she said. “He really enjoyed playing his music with his son and his grandchildren. He loved his music and the music today will help us.” When their parents divorced, O’Day said “He took over the family and became the breadwinner. And he was the only boy, so he was special to my mother. She kind of spoiled him.” Blanche offered a smile as a response.

Besides remembering those who passed away, the event offered the staff of the hospice, which included grief counselors and other therapeutic personnel, the opportunity to offer further support for the families.

“This is a chance to follow up with these families,” said Director of Clinical Services Lynn Gray. “The staff sees the families, they say hello to them and they see how they’re doing. This is right before the holidays, which can make this an even harder time for them.”

—Robert Igoe

Back to Top

Annual Bereavement Conference

October 10, 2008
The Hampton Inn (Berryville Avenue) Winchester, VA

Guest Speaker: Harold Ivan Smith

- Please continue to check for updated information regarding this conference as
well as a registration form.

Back to Top

Links to Resources

Additional resources can be found in our Lending library: LendingLibraryLog22008.xls (Excel/76k) located in the Blue Ridge Hospice Residential Center.

Suggested Videos for Those Who Have Suffered a Loss:

• "Men in Grief"
• "Surviving as a Widower"
• "No one Ever Told Us" , Linda Cunningham - Tag Video "The Gifts of Grief", Nancy Sobonya
  

Grief and Loss Web Resources

If you have any questions, you can e-mail our bereavement department at bereavement@blueridgehospice.org or phone (540) 536-5210.

Back to Top