Bereavement Professional

  • 1.  children/teen grief bags

    Posted 05-17-2019 02:07 PM

    Hi all,

     

    I was wondering if any of you provide a grief bag for children visiting a loved one. I am thinking of making a few to have on hand that include an age appropriate book on loss, coloring book/colors, and a small item such as stuffed animal or yo-yo. Please give me ideas if you do provide these bags or reasons you do not provide. Another area is teen grief and would like ideas on how you handle teens.

     

    Kay Ross
    Bereavement Coordinator
    Hillcrest Hospice Care
    t: (402) 934-2518 internal: 2518
    f: (402) 934 2291
    m: (402) 619-2321
    kross@Hillcresthealth.com
    www.hillcresthealth.com


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  • 2.  RE: children/teen grief bags

    Posted 05-20-2019 10:11 AM
    I have only provided such a bag on 2 occasions, both were for grandchildren who were visiting from out-of-state. The items you mentioned are great. I also included a couple of scrapbook pages with some stickers (thinking that they could create something together that the child could keep after loved one passed.) Also a sheet with a few interview-type "Favorite" questions that could be asked of the loved one; and teen could fill in their response. ie: Favorite Meal, Favorite Childhood Game, Favorite Season or Holiday...etc. 
    I think this is a practice that we should look to expand. Thanks for putting this on our radar!

    ------------------------------
    Jane Olivier, BC
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  • 3.  RE: children/teen grief bags

    Posted 05-20-2019 10:56 AM
    We have provided a few different options over the years. For a while we had "Kids Kits" which had the kinds of items you mentioned as well as colorful  5X7 instructional cards to suggest "Simple Ways to Say Goodbye" as well as "Typical Grief Responses in Children," Suggestions on how to support children coping with illness and loss, ideas on how to use the supplies to make commemorative items, and suggestions like Anagrams or drawing a favorite memory.  We also provide white pillowcases and 4 fabric markers with instructions on how to decorate pillowcase. These have worked remarkably well as a way to help adults involve children and teens (and sometimes even adults make them) in making something for the patient. I have heard many a story about how attached the child becomes to the pillowcase when it is given back to them after the patient dies. Lastly, we also created a 'fingerprint tree' where we provide the kit that has a sample one, a set of different colored ink pads, and the template for the entire family including the patient and any children in the home to each add their fingerprints to the tree. At the base of the tree is a banner that says "Love Makes a Family" and this becomes a meaningful memory and memento of time spent together creating it as a family.

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    Patti Anewalt, Director
    Pathways Center for Grief & Loss
    Hospice & Community Care
    Mount Joy, PA
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  • 4.  RE: children/teen grief bags

    Posted 05-21-2019 12:30 PM
    ​These are all great suggestions.  In the past we also had kids kits which included materials for scrapbooking, paper for hand-tracing, some fidget toys, and materials to make a bracelet.  It came with colorful cards with instructions.

    Diane

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    Diane Snyder Cowan, CHPCA,MA,MT-BC
    Director of Western Reserve Grief Services
    Hospice of the Western Reserve, Inc
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: children/teen grief bags

    Posted 05-21-2019 02:49 PM

    I love these ideas, thank you

     

    Kay Ross
    Bereavement Coordinator
    Hillcrest Hospice Care
    t: (402) 934-2518 internal: 2518
    f: (402) 934 2291
    m: (402) 619-2321
    kross@Hillcresthealth.com
    www.hillcresthealth.com


    CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.

     






  • 6.  RE: children/teen grief bags

    Posted 05-22-2019 10:16 AM

    It is great to hear more ideas!  We provide small canvas tote bags that include an envelope of handouts for the parent/caregiver that explains child development relationship to grief and loss and how adults can help. We still have in stock older CareNotes written for children and teens addressing death, funerals, grief.  I have only found one hospice specific coloring book and order from The Talbot Hospice Foundation, 410.822.6681. It explains role of the hospice team members visiting the patient and approaching death. We top it off with small box of crayons and heart shaped fleece rice bags made by volunteers.  We also use Alan Wolfelt's coloring book ,"How I Feel", as needed. Team social workers share this bag with families/children and use this opportunity to provide grief education and support.

     

    Deborah Andrews, MSSW, LCSW

    Bereavement Coordinator

    BSA Hospice of the Southwest

    5211 SW 9th Ave., Ste. 100

    Amarillo, TX  79106

    806-350-1352   www.hospicesouthwest.com

     

    Grief and gratitude are kindred souls, each pointing to the beauty of what is transient and given to us by grace.  -- Patricia Campbell Carlson

     

     



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