Literature Review
All posts tagged with “Clinical News | Grief & Bereavement News.”
My father, the giant: His life's work was caring for the people he loved
01/05/24 at 04:00 AMMy father, the giant: His life's work was caring for the people he lovedThe Atlantic, by Ross Andersen; 1/3/24Yesterday afternoon, my dad, Erik Dybkaer Andersen, lay sleeping at home in his hospice bed when a calm settled over his body and he drew his last breath. He was 78. For more than a year, we had known that cancer would take him; only the hour was uncertain. But it is still a shock to find him missing from his bedroom, from his family, from the world. It is too early to measure, much less put into writing, all that he meant to us. For now, I want only to read his life into the record, and to get across his essence, above all as a caretaker of those he loved.Editor's Note: Access to the full article requires a free trial or subscription to The Atlantic.
The book "The In-Between: Unforgettable encounters during life's final moments
01/04/24 at 04:00 AMThe book "The In-Between: Unforgettable encounters during life's final momentsHSJ Online, by David Webster; 1/2/24Recently, I received a book from one of my daughters for my birthday, "The In-Between" by Hadley Vlahos, RN. While in Florida for a vacation, I made reading the best-selling book a priority and admittedly cried with each chapter as Hadley shares her personal life mixed in with being a Hospice nurse. Hadley made a statement ... that really struck me, ... “I have learned how important it is to be a human first and an employee second.”
Young paperboy volunteers for hospice in memory of grandparents
01/04/24 at 04:00 AMYoung paperboy volunteers for hospice in memory of grandparents BNN, by Ayesha Mumtaz; 1/3/24Jack Hartley, a 14-year-old paperboy, has taken up a noble cause close to his heart. Channeling personal loss into community service, Jack is volunteering his time to distribute leaflets for the East Cheshire Hospice, an organization that holds deep significance for him and his family. Both of Jack’s grandparents, Philip and Olwen Hobson, received care at the hospice before their demise just three months apart in 2015.Editor's Note: I wish the word "demise" had not been used, as it has (to this reader) negative connotations similar to the word "expired," for life's natural processes of dying and death. Otherwise, this story might spark ideas for creative ways to involve younger volunteers--with appropriate parental / adult supervision--for other meaningful ways to contribute toward your hospice mission.
A Birmingham mother draws on personal tragedy to assist grieving families
01/03/24 at 03:30 AMA Birmingham mother draws on personal tragedy to assist grieving familiesAlabama Reflection, by Ralph Chapoco; 1/2/24Ella Shakeel has been volunteering with Faith in Action Alabama for five years. In that time, she worked exclusively with victims of violent crime as they came to terms with not only the tragedy of losing a loved one, but also with dealing with the logistics of laying them to rest. The source of her empathy stems from the tragedy that she herself has endured.
Offering ‘emotional first aid’ to people in shock over a sudden death
01/02/24 at 04:00 AMOffering ‘emotional first aid’ to people in shock over a sudden deathLas Vegas Review-Journal; 12/30/23When first responders in Clark County encounter relatives, friends, co-workers and bystanders upset about a sudden death, they contact volunteers of the Trauma Intervention Program of Southern Nevada to come to the scene.
She’s a hospice social worker sharing why you shouldn’t immediately tell the bank when a loved one passes away
01/01/24 at 04:00 AMShe’s A Hospice Social Worker Sharing Why You Shouldn’t Immediately Tell The Bank When A Loved One Passes AwayChipChick, by Emily Chan; 12/26/23Amy Devine (@yourhospicesocialworker) is a hospice social worker, and she’s on TikTok explaining why you should not immediately notify the bank when a loved one dies. After the loss of a loved one, you should take the time to grieve. The following few weeks will be filled with plenty of preparations.
Offering ‘emotional first aid’ to people in shock over a sudden death
01/01/24 at 03:00 AMOffering ‘emotional first aid’ to people in shock over a sudden death
Hodge Podge
12/31/23 at 04:00 AMHodge PodgeKDLM-AM (Detroit Lakes, MN); 12/28/23Connie DeKrey, grief specialist for Hospice of the Red River Valley, talks about how to move on after a loss, but stressed that everyone deals with loss differently. “New Years has its own set of emotions that are prompted. For instance, families have gathered from a distance, and traveled, and there’s a real anticipation of that. But at some point everyone has to go home again and so that extra support and connection ... it can be a real letdown when everyone has to go back to their own homes. There can be some hesitancy, even dread, about beginning the new year without that loved one. But there might also be a sense of hope or expectancy of something positive.”[Editor’s Note: To listen to the 7-minute interview, click here.]
People are talking to their dead loved ones—and they can’t stop laughing. It’s a refreshing trend.
12/31/23 at 04:00 AMPeople are talking to their dead loved ones—and they can’t stop laughing. It’s a refreshing trend.USA Today; 12/29/23Everyone grieves differently—and if you’ve spent any time on TikTok in recent days, you might have noticed some unexpected, unusual methods. Some people—to the tune of millions of likes—are confessing or sharing stories with their dead loved ones directly on social media.
Palliative Care Consultation and Family-Centered Outcomes in Patients With Unplanned Intensive Care Unit Admissions
12/29/23 at 03:08 AMPalliative Care Consultation and Family-Centered Outcomes in Patients With Unplanned Intensive Care Unit AdmissionsJournal of Palliative MedicineJamie T Nomitch, et.al.December 25, 2023Context: Hospitalized patients who experience unplanned intensive care unit (ICU) admissions face significant challenges, and their family members have unique palliative care needs. Objectives: To identify predictors of palliative care consultation among hospitalized patients with unplanned ICU admissions and to examine the association between palliative care consultation and family outcomes.Conclusions: For patients experiencing unplanned ICU admission, palliative care consultation often happened after transfer and was associated with illness severity, comorbid illness, and hospital site. Patient death was associated with family symptoms of psychological distress.
In the Shelter of a Weeping Beech
12/27/23 at 03:25 AMIn the Shelter of a Weeping BeechBy Jesse Wegman, Member of the Editorial BoardNew York TimesDecember 25, 2023[Editor’s Note from Mark Cohen: The author writes about a large, weeping beech tree that was his mother’s favorite and a ritual he developed to sit in the tree every year on the anniversary of her death and wait for his mother to join him.]
Share your story of grief with USA TODAY
12/26/23 at 04:00 AMShare your story of grief with USA TODAYUSA Today, 12/24/23[USA Today is offering readers the opportunity to share their personal grief experiences by completing a two-page survey.] We know so many people are grieving losses of all kinds: children, parents, pets, jobs, identities. It can help to talk about it—and sometimes writing can be an outlet. We encourage you to share your story with us.
‘Memory Makers’ helps grieving children and teens in Augusta
12/26/23 at 04:00 AM‘Memory Makers’ helps grieving children and teens in AugustaWRDW-TV (Augusta, GA), 12/22/23Augusta, GA—A new program is giving kids and teens a better way to handle grief, and it won’t cost you anything. The holidays can bring on heavy emotions, not just for adults who’ve lost a loved one, but for children too. The program is called Memory Makers. It’s held at Affinis Hospice on Walton Way, and it’s for ages 4 to 17. Volunteer Coordinator Jessica Hands says she started Memory Makers because her father died when she was 15. Her goal is to help create a safe space so young people can give their pain a purpose. “This space kind of gives them the opportunity to scream. We scream. We have torn paper up and thrown it to let our anger out. We laugh, we cry. It gives them a space to do all of that without worrying about how it may impact someone else’s emotions,” she said.
Christmas tree dedicated to those who died in hospice care in 2023 stolen in Ellensburg
12/20/23 at 03:41 AMChristmas tree dedicated to those who died in hospice care in 2023 stolen in EllensburgSource One (Columbia River Basin, WA)December 18, 2023Ellensburg, WA—In an unfortunate turn of events, a treasured Christmas tree, integral to a local hospice care volunteer group’s annual remembrance event, was reported stolen this past weekend. Hearts & Hands of Kittitas County, formerly known as Hospice Friends, has been a beacon of compassion and support in Ellensburg, dedicating their time to assist those in hospice care. The stolen tree, a centerpiece for their “Tree of Love” event, was intended to honor individuals served by the organization who passed away in 2023. This significant event, originally scheduled for January 25, 2024, not only serves as a memorial but also plays a crucial role in fundraising efforts for the group.
Hospice sponsors Lights of Love event
12/20/23 at 03:25 AMHospice sponsors Lights of Love eventSan Mountain (AL) ReporterDecember 18, 2023The community gathered Tuesday evening at Shepherd’s Cove Hospice for their annual “Lights of Love” event to honor loved ones who have passed away and remember them during the holiday season. Over 500 luminaries were lined single file on the front lawn. ... Stormy Dismute, Shepherd’s Cove CEO estimated attendance at over 200 for the come and go event.
Grieving amid holidays is hard. Hospice can help
12/19/23 at 03:59 AMGrieving amid holidays is hard. Hospice can helpTimes Union (Albany, NY)December 16, 2023The holidays can be challenging, more so for those dealing with the loss of a loved one. ... “We have lots of experience dealing with death and grieving,” said Angela Yu, manager of marketing and communications, continuing care at St. Peter’s Health Partners. She said the hospice has also developed Holiday Hope videos on how to cope. They are posted on Facebook.
Mary Washington Hospice’s 6th annual Light Up a Life raises more than $34,000
12/19/23 at 03:49 AMMary Washington Hospice’s 6th annual Light Up a Life raises more than $34,000Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, VA)December 17, 2023Fredericksburg, VA—Mary Washington Hospice hosted its sixth annual Light Up a Life Illumination event on Nov. 9. This special event allowed community members to purchase luminaria in their loved ones’ memory. ... Proceeds from Light Up a Life benefit Mary Washington Hospice, Grief Support Services and Mary Washington Hospital Auxiliary. ... “This year, Light Up a Life raised more than $34,000 to support these vital programs,” says Amy Hoffman, director of Mary Washington Hospice.
Anderson Cooper’s Newest Assignment—Grief (His Own)
12/19/23 at 03:43 AMAnderson Cooper’s Newest Assignment—Grief (His Own)New York TimesDecember 17, 2023It took Anderson Cooper more than a year after his mother’s death to begin clearing out her apartment. It was an emotionally draining task, one that he put off—something his mother may have anticipated, because she left him a road map. He began finding notes she had left him, tucked away in drawers and sealed containers. Written in her hand on heavy stationery, they acted as a kind of treasure hunt to their shared grief. Mr. Cooper’s mother, the heiress and fashion designer Gloria Vanderbilt, was one of the most famous women in the world, courted by Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando, photographed by Richard Avedon, and a muse to Truman Capote, who is believed to have based the character of Holly Golightly in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” partly on her. Just sorting through her personal papers would have been challenging for her son after her death at the age of 95 in 2019. But the apartment was also the final resting place of objects that belonged to Mr. Cooper’s father, Wyatt Emory Cooper, an author and screenwriter who died in 1978 when Anderson was 10, and his older brother, Carter Cooper, who died in 1988, when they were both in their 20s, after jumping from his mother’s balcony.... Mr. Cooper, 56, began keeping voice memos on his phone as he was sorting through his mother’s belongings in 2021. They grew into a podcast on grief, “All There Is With Anderson Cooper,” which began its second season in November. For decades, the longtime anchor of CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360°” has chronicled other people’s suffering. Now, he has become a correspondent from the land of his own grief.
How one woman is honoring her late husband’s memory with a grief program at Sargento
12/19/23 at 03:03 AMHow one woman is honoring her late husband’s memory with a grief program at SargentoSheboygan (WI) PressDecember 17, 2023Plymouth, WI—Shirley Krause and her husband Randy Susen were inseparable for 30 years. ... Susen passed away July 4, 2020, at age 64, nearly a year after going to the ICU for the brain injury. ... Krause, a supply chain technology principal at Sargento, launched a life planning series in July focused on a grief and end-of-life planning for employees, one of several efforts she’s pursuing to honor her husband’s memory, along with hosting a widows’ support group, advocating for nursing home residents’ rights and supporting other families with traumatic brain injury survivors.
Community comes together to trim tree of treasured memories
12/18/23 at 04:00 AMCommunity comes together to trim tree of treasured memoriesDaily Star (Hammond, LA)December 16, 2023Hammond, LA—On the morning of Saturday, Dec. 9, members of the community came together for a standing-room-only remembrance celebration and to trim a Christmas tree with hand-picked ornaments symbolizing treasured memories of their loved ones. The “Memory Tree Remembrance Celebration” carries on a 31-year tradition that a!rms the lives of former hospice patients. Held in the E. Brent Dufreche Conference Center on the campus of North Oaks Medical Center, it is one component of North Oaks Hospice’s bereavement counseling and support services provided to families and caregivers for one year following the death of their loved one.
Oklahoma Woman Finds Help To Cope With Mother’s Loss During The Holidays
12/17/23 at 04:00 AMOklahoma Woman Finds Help To Cope With Mother’s Loss During The HolidaysKOTV-TV (Tulsa, OK)December 14, 2023Tulsa, OK—The loss of a loved one is difficult at any time, but during the holidays, grief and sorrow can be heightened. For one Oklahoma woman, she found comfort through hospice care even after her mother passed away.
For those who have lost loved ones, Fargo woman’s memory bears make grief easier to bear
12/17/23 at 04:00 AMFor those who have lost loved ones, Fargo woman’s memory bears make grief easier to bearDickinson (ND) PressDecember 14, 2023Fargo, ND—... Anne Kidder couldn’t agree more. The Fargo seamstress/crafter has found memorial gifts like her memory bears are her most popular product line. In addition to the bears, she also makes memorial elephants, lions and even unicorns. For parents who have lost a child to miscarriage or stillbirth, she makes a line of smaller bears, which can be weighted to the weight of the child at the time they were born. In addition, she makes memorial pillows, framed and embroidered wall hangings, holiday ornaments, keychains and quilts.
Funerals Are More Expensive Than Last Year
12/16/23 at 03:37 AMFunerals Are More Expensive Than Last YearNewsweekDecember 12, 2023The cost of nearly everything is rising in the U.S., but economic circumstances are grim enough that even funerals are more expensive. Funeral costs surged 4.8 percent since last year, according to Consumer Price Index data released Tuesday, another indication the impact inflation is having on Americans. ... Since funerals and items like coffins are already expensive, this adds to the burden grieving families carry.
How did I honor my mother’s death? By creating a holiday.
12/16/23 at 03:36 AMHow did I honor my mother’s death? By creating a holiday.By Margo RabbWashington PostDecember 14, 2023... For a long time, I had grappled with how to spend the anniversary [of the death of the author’s mother, Renée]. I had never observed it before—normally, I pretended it wasn’t happening—but a quarter-century seemed too momentous to do nothing. My mother had died when I was still in my teens, nine days after being diagnosed with cancer.
‘You can continue a conversation’—Letters to the dead arrive at this P.O. box in L.A.
12/16/23 at 03:34 AM‘You can continue a conversation’—Letters to the dead arrive at this P.O. box in L.A.Los Angeles TimesDecember 14, 2023Mail gets sent to the dead all the time—ads, renewal notices, unpaid bills. But if you want to send a letter to someone you’ve lost with the chance that they’ll actually receive it, there’s a box at a Los Angeles post office that carries a mysterious power. Postal Service for the Dead, started by artist Janelle Ketcher, provides the living with a way to physically send letters to those who have exited this realm. The letters are stored, and if so desired, shared with the public.