Long-term effects of participation in the bereavement support group at the Hospice of Petaluma.

Abstract

Introduction The deathof a loved one is the deepest of all sorrows.The griefthat resultsfrom sucha loss canbe very intense and multifaceted,and can eventhroweveryaspect oflife out of balance.Emotionally, grief may evokethestrongest feelingsofanger, guilt,fear,andanguishthataperson has ever felt. Mentally, grief may causeconfusion andevenconcern for one’ssanity.Physically,griefcan be experiencedas sleeplessness, emptiness,exhaustion,or nausea. The closer that one was to the deceased, the more havoc the loss creates. Overthe last 15 yearstherehas beenincreasedsocialrecognitionof the issuesof deathand dying. This awarenesscoupledwith an increasing geriatric population has awakenedformal interest in the processof griefandbereavement intervention.Many hospiceshaveexpandedtheir caregiving servicesto include counselingand support for the bereaved.Theseservicesrange from private counselingto work within smallbereavement groups. The goalof a bereavement support groupisto helpitsmembersaccomplishthe tasksofmourningin a safe and supportive environment. Theemphasisin groupsis on education and support rather than on therapy. In a supportiveenvironment,the bereavedis guidedto completethe two majortasksof grief: to acceptthe deathasrealandto cope with the emotional and social problemsthatarecreatedas aresult of theloss. The BoulderCountyHospiceoffersamodelbereavement groupformat that has beenwidely used by other hospicesacrossthe nationto set up bereavementprograms.Its goals are designedto help group membersbegin to cope with the many changesandproblemsfaced duringthegrievingprocess. Educationandinformationabout the normalgriefprocessarethe first