“Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted.”

CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ON OUR UPCOMING "GRIEF TO PEACE WORKSHOP"

Bereavement & Spiritual Care

A candle is lit in memory of a loved one served by High Peaks Hospice, at a recent Memorial Service.

Spiritual Care

“Spiritual” is defined as that which gives meaning to life. Spiritual support is available when desired by hospice patients and their families from the Spiritual Care (Bereavement) Coordinators, bereavement volunteer clergy and community clergy. Hospice spiritual care seeks to enable patients and families to attain the spiritual preparation for death that they desire.

Bereavement Care

Bereavement Care is offered to grieving family members by hospice before, during and for 13 months following the death of the patient. The goal of hospice bereavement care is to enable family members to receive support throughout the grieving process. Bereavement services are also offered to members of the community at large.

What Services Are Offered?

Home Visits
In some cases visits from our Bereavement Staff (Coordinator) are offered to those who accept them.

Telephone Contact
Telephone contact is offered as needed or as requested. Contact the Bereavement Coordinator in your area for more information.

Informational Mailings
The “Grief Information Series” will be sent periodically over the next thirteen months to help the family understand the grief journey. Families receive mailings that include: What is Grief, Feelings of Grief, Coping with Grief, Coping with the Holidays, After the First Year and more.

Bereavement Volunteers
Trained Bereavement volunteers are available to offer support to family members in a variety of ways.

Bereavement & Grief Support Groups
A consistent finding is that the best way that people relieve loneliness and develop systems of support is by joining a support group. You can come and listen and only share what you are comfortable sharing. Remember that confidentiality and anonymity are important so what is said at these groups stays in the groups.

The first step – going to your first meeting – is the hardest so please do not hesitate to contact the High Peaks Hospice Social Worker or Bereavement Coordinator in your area for help.

WARREN COUNTY OFFICE:

A Grief Support Group is offered throughout the year on the 1st Tuesday of every month at the Church of the Messiah Parrish House from 5:00 to 6:30pm. The group is open to anyone. No pre-registration is necessary. Please contact Steve Davie at 518-743-1672 if you have any questions.

NEW: the Grief Support Group is adding on another day!! Beginning in May we will also be meeting every other Wednesday night. So mark your calendar with the following dates and remember it's the first Tuesday and every other Wednesday of the month.

November: Wed., November 19, 2008 (November location not known)
December: Wed., December 17, 2008 Wed., December 31, 2008

Navigating through the days, weeks, months and years following the death of a loved one is physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually challenging. Hospice staff, together with fellow travelers, offers insight and suggestions for moving through the grieving process associated with the loss of someone you love.

High Peaks Hospice and Palliative Care's program for bereaved persons is open to anyone who has experienced the death of a spouse, parent, significant person, child, friend, or relative. No previous affiliation with hospice is required. Groups will have a topic to help guide the group process.

Main floor- Library
The Church of the Messiah Parish Hall
296 Glen St
Glens Falls, NY 12801
5:00p - 6:30p

Handicapped Accessible. No advance registration. No fee.
HOSPICE.....There's so much we can do.

Any questions, please contact Susan Socha, SW or Erika Walker, BC at
High Peaks Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc, 667 Bay Rd., Suite 1, Queensbury, NY 12804
518-743-1672

TRI-LAKES OFFICE:

For further information about the following groups, please contact Bereavement Coordinator, Barbara Hofrichter 891-0606 or barbhofrichter@highpeakshospice.com

CAREGIVERS SUPPORT

This group is for those who care for a loved one with a long term illness or disability. The group meets 1:00 -2:30 PM on the Second Wednesday of the month at the High Peaks Hospice Office in Saranac Lake (309 County Route 47 Suite 3). New Members are welcome.

Dates Remaining this Year:


          November 12, 2008
            December 10, 2008

GRIEF TO PEACE SUPPORT GROUP

This group follows the book “Here To There, Grief To Peace: An Illustrated Journey in Nine Guided Steps” written by Diana Jacks, our guest speaker in November 2007. The group meets 5:00-6:30 PM on the Fourth Monday of the Month at the High Peaks Hospice office in Saranac Lake.

The following meetings remain this year:

             JULY 28, 2008     CARD SIX: FINDING ONE’S WAY PP 58-64
            AUG. 25, 2008      CARD SEVEN: BLINDSIDED    PAGES 66-72
            SEPT. 22, 2008     CARD EIGHT: TRUE STRENGTH   PP 74-79
            OCT. 27, 2008      CARD NINE: PEACE               PAGES 80-83
            NOV. 24, 2008      CELEBRATION OF THE JOURNEY

BEREAVEMENT VOLUNTEERS

Bereavement Care Volunteer Team meets the third Tuesday of every Month from 4:30- 6:00 at the High Peaks Hospice Tri Lakes Office in Saranac Lake. There they receive additional training and gain support for the contacts and care they have given over the month.

The following persons have been trained recently as Bereavement care volunteers: Beatrice Beguin, Lois Donnelly (& Colton, Therapy dog), Idomina Falorca, Anita Moore, Nancy Murphy, Fred Oberst, Clifford Wagner, Sarah Wardner.

MEETING DATES:

October 21, 2008
November 18, 2008

ESSEX COUNTY OFFICE:

Bereavement Support Group meets the 2^nd Thursday of each month at the Hand House in Elizabethtown. The groups are from 2:30-4:00 pm and are facilitated by High Peaks Hospice Social Worker, Joan Lilly. If you have any questions please contact Joan at 518-546-9850 or email joanlilly@highpeakshospice.com

We're pleased to offer a second Bereavement Support Group, which will meet the 1st Wednesday of each month at the Ticonderoga campus of North Country Community College from 5:30pm-7:00pm. For more information, please contact Lin Leavens at 518-546-9850, 1-800-639-8045 or email lindaleavens@highpeakshospice.com

Dates for the remainder of the year are as follows:

November 5, 2008
December 3, 2008

Memorial Services
Memorial Services are usually held once or twice a year in each office for the families and friends of patients who were in Hospice care. The staff participates in readings, songs, and remembrances. After the service there is social time for conversation and refreshments.

Grief Education
Presentations about grief and loss are offered to High Peaks Hospice Families and the community periodically throughout the year.

Community Referrals
Hospice can link family members with other community agencies when needed.

Grief Reference Materials
A lending Library of Reference materials on grief and loss can be found in each office as well as lists of suggested reading materials.

Bereavement Mailings

What is Grief

Feelings of Grief

Coping with Grief

Different Bonds, Different Grief

After the First Year

To Reach Us
Tri-Lakes Warren County Essex County
1-877-324-1686 1-800-730-9477 1-800-639-8045

Bereavement Care

What Services Are Offered? Home Visits In some cases visits from our Bereavement Staff (Coordinator) are offered to those who accept them.

Telephone Contact Telephone contact is offered as needed or as requested. Contact the Bereavement Coordinator in your area for more information.

BEREAVEMENT VOLUNTEERS

Memorial Services Memorial Services are usually held once or twice a year in each office for the families and friends of patients who were in Hospice care. The staff participates in readings, songs, and remembrances. After the service there is social time for conversation and refreshments.

Grief Education Presentations about grief and loss are offered to High Peaks Hospice Families and the community periodically throughout the year.

Community Referrals Hospice can link family members with other community agencies when needed.

Grief Reference Materials A lending Library of Reference materials on grief and loss can be found in each office as well as lists of suggested reading materials.