Bereavement care is an essential component of hospice care that includes anticipating grief reactions and providing ongoing support for the bereaved. While the terms are often used interchangeably, bereavement refers to the state of loss, and grief is the reaction to loss. Grief is not an illness, it's a normal part of the process of reacting to a loss.
Family members and friends who have lost someone may experience grief as a mental or physical reaction.
The first year of bereavement can be the most difficult as families experience a “year of firsts,” such as first birthday, first holiday, first anniversary, etc., without a loved one. How long bereavement lasts can depend on how close you were to the person who died, if the person's death was expected and other factors.
Our bereavement services assist the families of our patients through their grief by promoting positive ways to cope with the pain of loss. INTEGRIS chaplains provide follow-up for the families we have served for at least 13 months, even longer if necessary. INTEGRIS Health also offers individual grief support, grief recovery groups and referrals to other community resources.
As a non-profit organization, INTEGRIS Health also offers free grief support to the community. Our grief support program provides a step-by-step approach for those who wish to resolve their loss issues and soften the pain of their loss. Meeting once a week for six weeks, these groups are led by licensed professional counselors specializing in the field of grief and loss. The groups are confidential, and offered at no cost to anyone who has suffered the loss of a significant person. For more information, please call 405-848-8884.
