Although your loved one wll never be forgotten, Hospice of the Finger Lakes offers opportunities to support you and assist you through your time of sorrow and bereavement. Everyone's experiences are different and you may desire support beyond your own family. We try to help meet your special needs through the following, all of which are provided free of charge to any of our Hospice families and the community we serve.
Individual Support
After the death of a loved one, our bereavement coordinator will contact the bereaved caregiver/family. He/she will visit in person or by phone to ascertain the needs and wishes of the bereaved family. A volunteer trained in bereavement will be offered to regularly call or visit the bereaved person(s) as they desire following the patient's death. Our chaplain and/or social worker are always available for support in your bereavement.
Bereavement Support Group
Hospice of the Finger Lakes offers a six-week support group program twice each year. These sessions are facilitated
by professional counselors who provide a confidential and comfortable setting. Bereaved people find comfort and
support in listening and sharing with others who have experienced similar loss in their lives. The date and time of
these groups is announced in our bi-monthly bereavement newsletter, "Pathways". You can register by simply calling the
Hospice office at:
(315) 255-2733
Educational Services and Materials
Hospice of the Finger Lakes' Library has many books on grief and bereavement available to anyone simply by signing them out. We ask that you return them within one month's time in an effort to make them available to other bereaved people.
Community Support Groups
Community support groups are available to bereaved in our area. We offer these to you as alternative options. Their time frame and location may be easier for you to attend. Call the hospice office for referrals.
Camp Hearts A'Hoy
The mission of Camp Hearts A'Hoy is to help facilitate the grief work and healing for children/teens ages 8-15 at Camp Y'Owasco. Camp Hearts A'Hoy combines education and fun as a model of healthy grief work each summer under the leadership of professional staff and volunteers.
Pathways
Pathways is a bi-monthly newsletter mailed to bereaved caregivers and family members. This newsletter addresses timely topics related to grief issues with ideas on how to cope with one's own grief as well as that of other family members. It is also the medium through which we often announce events that Hospice is offering for bereaved people.
Memorial Services
Hospice of the Finger Lakes holds an annual service of remembrance for our caregivers and families who have lost loved ones under our care. These services have proven to be very meaningful. Invitations are mailed to all our families we have served over the years and our staff looks forward to reconnecting with our families.
Referral Services
Hospice of the Finger Lakes can refer bereaved caregivers and family members to a grief therapist or local psychologists who have worked with people experiencing unusual or complicated grief issues. The fee for their counseling may be adjusted according to your ability to pay. These fees are not paid by Hospice.