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Rev Laura Frazey
Rev. Laura Frazey is the chaplain for Faith Home Health and Hospice LLC. Faith Home Health and Hospice provides care for patients throughout all stages of life, wherever they consider home. Laura received her M.Div. from Louisville Seminary and is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA). Laura has worked in a variety of health care settings and specializes in grief counseling. . You can contact Rev. Frazey at 316-618-6800.
Hospice
2006-09-01 11:54:00
What are bereavements?
ANSWER:  The care offered by hospice does not end with death.  As part of the interdisciplinary care we provide for our patients, hospice offers additional support for family and friends after the death of a loved one.  The patient can be certain that his or her loved ones will not be left to deal with their grief alone.  Hospice agencies offer continued supportive care for those who are left to cope with loss.  The term “bereavement” refers to the time after an individual has suffered a loss.  This time is often characterized as the grieving period. Just as we must heal after suffering an injury or illness, so must we heal after suffering a loss.  The process of grief provides ways for us to cope with loss and can lead to healing after loss.  Everyone’s journey through the grieving process is different.  While we can often look to others whose experiences are similar, we each must take our own time to deal with a particular loss.  Hospice agencies respect that individual needs vary and can customize their bereavement programs around the individual.The time after the loss of a loved one can be very difficult.  Grief can set in very quickly and can leave individuals feeling overwhelmed.  Grief can also be delayed and can manifest itself many months after a loved one’s death.  Hospice guidelines require a minimum of thirteen months during which bereavement counselors and other caring individuals reach out to family members and friends, offering gentle reminders that they are not alone.      Hospice agencies provide support in several ways.  One way to help individuals journey through the grieving process is by offering grief counseling.  Grief counseling helps individuals recognize the grieving process and how to deal with issues of loss as they develop.  Another effective tool in journeying through grief is bereavement groups in which individuals can gather together with others experiencing similar losses and to affirm that they are not alone.  Many hospice agencies also create annual memorial services that celebrate the lives of hose who have passed away, allowing a space for each life to be celebrated and for families to come together who share the hospice experience.  Finally, hospice agencies offer presence for those separated from their loved ones.  Often, a grieving person simply needs an ear to listen and a shoulder to cry on.  At Faith Hospice, we understand that grief is a natural process and can vary greatly among individuals.  We also recognize that grief can be abrupt, occurring immediately after a loss, or it can be more subtle and lasting.  As a result, we offer an eighteen-month program of support.  Our hope is that we can become a part of that which brings individuals strength and comfort, offering friendly reminders of our presence even during the most difficult times.  The journey through grief can be very difficult but it can also provide healing and can bring a new sense of meaning and joy.  Bereavement services can offer help along that journey.    If you have questions or need to discuss the options regarding hospice care, please feel free to call our office at 316-618-6800.  Our staff will be happy to answer your questions and explain our hospice program to you.
 
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