Bereavement Professional

Hi, me again. I'm back with questions about your Grief Support Groups! We have one once a month on the fourth Wednesday of every month. I'm curious if any of you watch a video or anything like that during your group? Our groups are only an hour long. any help is appreciated. Thank you!

Hi Erin, This is a great question and I am interested to see the answers you receive and learn from them as well.  We host 2 ongoing drop-in style groups one is every other Tuesday and the other is every other Friday.  The groups are 1.5 hrs (as we need to review ground rules and do intros each time) and during that time we do not typically show videos.  We open the floor to participants to bring up anything they would like if that conversation runs out or wanders off the topic of brv we always have a short (5 min or less) education and 3-5 discussion prompting questions related to that topic.  Typically the discussion/sharing portion of our groups is about 1 hr - 1hr 15 min.    

I hope that helps!  -Lauren

Hi, me again. I'm back with questions about your Grief Support Groups! We have one once a month on the fourth Wednesday of every month. I'm curious if any of you watch a video or anything like that during your group? Our groups are only an hour long. any help is appreciated. Thank you!

Hi Erin, This is a great question and I am interested to see the answers you receive and learn from them as well.  We host 2 ongoing drop-in style groups one is every other Tuesday and the other is every other Friday.  The groups are 1.5 hrs (as we need to review ground rules and do intros each time) and during that time we do not typically show videos.  We open the floor to participants to bring up anything they would like if that conversation runs out or wanders off the topic of brv we always have a short (5 min or less) education and 3-5 discussion prompting questions related to that topic.  Typically the discussion/sharing portion of our groups is about 1 hr - 1hr 15 min.    

I hope that helps!  -Lauren

Hi, me again. I'm back with questions about your Grief Support Groups! We have one once a month on the fourth Wednesday of every month. I'm curious if any of you watch a video or anything like that during your group? Our groups are only an hour long. any help is appreciated. Thank you!

Hi Erin, This is a great question and I am interested to see the answers you receive and learn from them as well.  We host 2 ongoing drop-in style groups one is every other Tuesday and the other is every other Friday.  The groups are 1.5 hrs (as we need to review ground rules and do intros each time) and during that time we do not typically show videos.  We open the floor to participants to bring up anything they would like if that conversation runs out or wanders off the topic of brv we always have a short (5 min or less) education and 3-5 discussion prompting questions related to that topic.  Typically the discussion/sharing portion of our groups is about 1 hr - 1hr 15 min.    

I hope that helps!  -Lauren

Hi, me again. I'm back with questions about your Grief Support Groups! We have one once a month on the fourth Wednesday of every month. I'm curious if any of you watch a video or anything like that during your group? Our groups are only an hour long. any help is appreciated. Thank you!

Hi, me again. I'm back with questions about your Grief Support Groups! We have one once a month on the fourth Wednesday of every month. I'm curious if any of you watch a video or anything like that during your group? Our groups are only an hour long. any help is appreciated. Thank you!

------------------------------
Erin Staggers

Volunteer/Bereavement Coordinator, Home Hospice
UPMC Western Maryland
1050 West Industrial Blvd, Suite 19
Cumberland, MD 21502
------------------------------

Hi Erin, 

I facilitate our grief support groups which are 1.5 hours. We have a 6 week group for adults and then a monthly drop in group for those who have attended our 6 week groups for continued support. In some of our groups I like to show a short story about grief that can be found at Speaking Grief, they also offer a fantastic documentary about grief  (https://speakinggrief.org). In our 6-week groups I use the loss discussion cards from Girls Gone Happy. I ended up laminating the cards and usually use them once the group has met for several weeks so they feel more comfortable together. I hope some of these ideas are helpful and I always like to see what other facilitators are doing! 

- Emily 

Original Message:
Sent: 03-24-2023 10:50 AM
From: Erin Staggers
Subject: Grief Group

Hi, me again. I'm back with questions about your Grief Support Groups! We have one once a month on the fourth Wednesday of every month. I'm curious if any of you watch a video or anything like that during your group? Our groups are only an hour long. any help is appreciated. Thank you!

------------------------------
Erin Staggers

Volunteer/Bereavement Coordinator, Home Hospice
UPMC Western Maryland
1050 West Industrial Blvd, Suite 19
Cumberland, MD 21502
------------------------------

I am new to the role of Bereavement Coordinator.   I appreciate all the helpful info you all are sharing. THANK YOU.   Does anyone have any thoughts on the best time of day (or evening) to get regular attendance at Grief Support meetings?   And where are you holding these meetings?  Anyone successfully using online Zoom type meeting for outlying geographical areas or those who have travel difficulties?

Hi Erin, 

I facilitate our grief support groups which are 1.5 hours. We have a 6 week group for adults and then a monthly drop in group for those who have attended our 6 week groups for continued support. In some of our groups I like to show a short story about grief that can be found at Speaking Grief, they also offer a fantastic documentary about grief  (https://speakinggrief.org). In our 6-week groups I use the loss discussion cards from Girls Gone Happy. I ended up laminating the cards and usually use them once the group has met for several weeks so they feel more comfortable together. I hope some of these ideas are helpful and I always like to see what other facilitators are doing! 

- Emily 

Original Message:
Sent: 03-24-2023 10:50 AM
From: Erin Staggers
Subject: Grief Group

Hi, me again. I'm back with questions about your Grief Support Groups! We have one once a month on the fourth Wednesday of every month. I'm curious if any of you watch a video or anything like that during your group? Our groups are only an hour long. any help is appreciated. Thank you!

------------------------------
Erin Staggers

Volunteer/Bereavement Coordinator, Home Hospice
UPMC Western Maryland
1050 West Industrial Blvd, Suite 19
Cumberland, MD 21502
------------------------------

I am new to the role of Bereavement Coordinator.   I appreciate all the helpful info you all are sharing. THANK YOU.   Does anyone have any thoughts on the best time of day (or evening) to get regular attendance at Grief Support meetings?   And where are you holding these meetings?  Anyone successfully using online Zoom type meeting for outlying geographical areas or those who have travel difficulties?

Hi Erin, 

I facilitate our grief support groups which are 1.5 hours. We have a 6 week group for adults and then a monthly drop in group for those who have attended our 6 week groups for continued support. In some of our groups I like to show a short story about grief that can be found at Speaking Grief, they also offer a fantastic documentary about grief  (https://speakinggrief.org). In our 6-week groups I use the loss discussion cards from Girls Gone Happy. I ended up laminating the cards and usually use them once the group has met for several weeks so they feel more comfortable together. I hope some of these ideas are helpful and I always like to see what other facilitators are doing! 

- Emily 

Original Message:
Sent: 03-24-2023 10:50 AM
From: Erin Staggers
Subject: Grief Group

Hi, me again. I'm back with questions about your Grief Support Groups! We have one once a month on the fourth Wednesday of every month. I'm curious if any of you watch a video or anything like that during your group? Our groups are only an hour long. any help is appreciated. Thank you!

------------------------------
Erin Staggers

Volunteer/Bereavement Coordinator, Home Hospice
UPMC Western Maryland
1050 West Industrial Blvd, Suite 19
Cumberland, MD 21502
------------------------------

I am new to the role of Bereavement Coordinator.   I appreciate all the helpful info you all are sharing. THANK YOU.   Does anyone have any thoughts on the best time of day (or evening) to get regular attendance at Grief Support meetings?   And where are you holding these meetings?  Anyone successfully using online Zoom type meeting for outlying geographical areas or those who have travel difficulties?

Hi Erin, 

I facilitate our grief support groups which are 1.5 hours. We have a 6 week group for adults and then a monthly drop in group for those who have attended our 6 week groups for continued support. In some of our groups I like to show a short story about grief that can be found at Speaking Grief, they also offer a fantastic documentary about grief  (https://speakinggrief.org). In our 6-week groups I use the loss discussion cards from Girls Gone Happy. I ended up laminating the cards and usually use them once the group has met for several weeks so they feel more comfortable together. I hope some of these ideas are helpful and I always like to see what other facilitators are doing! 

- Emily 

Original Message:
Sent: 03-24-2023 10:50 AM
From: Erin Staggers
Subject: Grief Group

Hi, me again. I'm back with questions about your Grief Support Groups! We have one once a month on the fourth Wednesday of every month. I'm curious if any of you watch a video or anything like that during your group? Our groups are only an hour long. any help is appreciated. Thank you!

------------------------------
Erin Staggers

Volunteer/Bereavement Coordinator, Home Hospice
UPMC Western Maryland
1050 West Industrial Blvd, Suite 19
Cumberland, MD 21502
------------------------------

Hi Erin,
We have an 8 week binder of material that we give to each new member of our ongoing weekly Grief Group.
Meetings are held on Tuesdays 2:00pm-3:30pm.   Many participants find the reading material very helpful and it give everyones a shared understanding of grief to discuss.

We start the group with the same format every time.  Welcome, basics of group agreements and invitation to share, address concerns and questions about their grief.  Everyone shares their name, their loved one(s) they have lost and sometimes that is all.  This is a safe place to listen if that is all you are able or want to do.  As facilitators we often set the frame for the group which creates a safety for people to participate to the degree they are comfortable.

We often provide specific resources based on the questions and requests brought up directly in the group at the next meeting.

I am new to the role of Bereavement Coordinator.   I appreciate all the helpful info you all are sharing. THANK YOU.   Does anyone have any thoughts on the best time of day (or evening) to get regular attendance at Grief Support meetings?   And where are you holding these meetings?  Anyone successfully using online Zoom type meeting for outlying geographical areas or those who have travel difficulties?

Hi Erin, 

I facilitate our grief support groups which are 1.5 hours. We have a 6 week group for adults and then a monthly drop in group for those who have attended our 6 week groups for continued support. In some of our groups I like to show a short story about grief that can be found at Speaking Grief, they also offer a fantastic documentary about grief  (https://speakinggrief.org). In our 6-week groups I use the loss discussion cards from Girls Gone Happy. I ended up laminating the cards and usually use them once the group has met for several weeks so they feel more comfortable together. I hope some of these ideas are helpful and I always like to see what other facilitators are doing! 

- Emily 

Original Message:
Sent: 03-24-2023 10:50 AM
From: Erin Staggers
Subject: Grief Group

Hi, me again. I'm back with questions about your Grief Support Groups! We have one once a month on the fourth Wednesday of every month. I'm curious if any of you watch a video or anything like that during your group? Our groups are only an hour long. any help is appreciated. Thank you!

------------------------------
Erin Staggers

Volunteer/Bereavement Coordinator, Home Hospice
UPMC Western Maryland
1050 West Industrial Blvd, Suite 19
Cumberland, MD 21502
------------------------------

Hi Erin,
We have an 8 week binder of material that we give to each new member of our ongoing weekly Grief Group.
Meetings are held on Tuesdays 2:00pm-3:30pm.   Many participants find the reading material very helpful and it give everyones a shared understanding of grief to discuss.  

We start the group with the same format every time.  Welcome, basics of group agreements and invitation to share, address concerns and questions about their grief.  Everyone shares their name, their loved one(s) they have lost and sometimes that is all.  This is a safe place to listen if that is all you are able or want to do.  As facilitators we often set the frame for the group which creates a safety for people to participate to the degree they are comfortable. 

We often provide specific resources based on the questions and requests brought up directly in the group at the next meeting.

I am new to the role of Bereavement Coordinator.   I appreciate all the helpful info you all are sharing. THANK YOU.   Does anyone have any thoughts on the best time of day (or evening) to get regular attendance at Grief Support meetings?   And where are you holding these meetings?  Anyone successfully using online Zoom type meeting for outlying geographical areas or those who have travel difficulties?

Hi Erin, 

I facilitate our grief support groups which are 1.5 hours. We have a 6 week group for adults and then a monthly drop in group for those who have attended our 6 week groups for continued support. In some of our groups I like to show a short story about grief that can be found at Speaking Grief, they also offer a fantastic documentary about grief  (https://speakinggrief.org). In our 6-week groups I use the loss discussion cards from Girls Gone Happy. I ended up laminating the cards and usually use them once the group has met for several weeks so they feel more comfortable together. I hope some of these ideas are helpful and I always like to see what other facilitators are doing! 

- Emily 

Original Message:
Sent: 03-24-2023 10:50 AM
From: Erin Staggers
Subject: Grief Group

Hi, me again. I'm back with questions about your Grief Support Groups! We have one once a month on the fourth Wednesday of every month. I'm curious if any of you watch a video or anything like that during your group? Our groups are only an hour long. any help is appreciated. Thank you!

------------------------------
Erin Staggers

Volunteer/Bereavement Coordinator, Home Hospice
UPMC Western Maryland
1050 West Industrial Blvd, Suite 19
Cumberland, MD 21502
------------------------------

do you also have a scheduled 8 week program?

We do both -- a 6 week program with a set curriculum 

that meets with the same group of people each week for 6 weeks.

We have a separate ongoing group to which people 

are invited to participate as they want/need. We start it

the same way you do and usually have a topic to prompt

discussion if something isn't brought up.

Thanks,

Veronica M. Ibarra, MS, FT, BCC

Bereavement Counselor

Presbyterian Home Health, Hospice, and Palliative Care

Albuquerque, NM

Bereavement Services: 505-559-7055

Cell: 505-377-1601

Hospice Main: 505-559-1000

"The journey through grief has a varied landscape but no permanent detours."

- from Healing After Loss, Martha Whitmore Hickman

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Hi Erin,
We have an 8 week binder of material that we give to each new member of our ongoing weekly Grief Group.
Meetings are held on Tuesdays 2:00pm-3:30pm.   Many participants find the reading material very helpful and it give everyones a shared understanding of grief to discuss.  

We start the group with the same format every time.  Welcome, basics of group agreements and invitation to share, address concerns and questions about their grief.  Everyone shares their name, their loved one(s) they have lost and sometimes that is all.  This is a safe place to listen if that is all you are able or want to do.  As facilitators we often set the frame for the group which creates a safety for people to participate to the degree they are comfortable. 

We often provide specific resources based on the questions and requests brought up directly in the group at the next meeting.

I am new to the role of Bereavement Coordinator.   I appreciate all the helpful info you all are sharing. THANK YOU.   Does anyone have any thoughts on the best time of day (or evening) to get regular attendance at Grief Support meetings?   And where are you holding these meetings?  Anyone successfully using online Zoom type meeting for outlying geographical areas or those who have travel difficulties?

Hi Erin, 

I facilitate our grief support groups which are 1.5 hours. We have a 6 week group for adults and then a monthly drop in group for those who have attended our 6 week groups for continued support. In some of our groups I like to show a short story about grief that can be found at Speaking Grief, they also offer a fantastic documentary about grief  (https://speakinggrief.org). In our 6-week groups I use the loss discussion cards from Girls Gone Happy. I ended up laminating the cards and usually use them once the group has met for several weeks so they feel more comfortable together. I hope some of these ideas are helpful and I always like to see what other facilitators are doing! 

- Emily 

Original Message:
Sent: 03-24-2023 10:50 AM
From: Erin Staggers
Subject: Grief Group

Hi, me again. I'm back with questions about your Grief Support Groups! We have one once a month on the fourth Wednesday of every month. I'm curious if any of you watch a video or anything like that during your group? Our groups are only an hour long. any help is appreciated. Thank you!

------------------------------
Erin Staggers

Volunteer/Bereavement Coordinator, Home Hospice
UPMC Western Maryland
1050 West Industrial Blvd, Suite 19
Cumberland, MD 21502
------------------------------

I am new to the role of Bereavement Coordinator.   I appreciate all the helpful info you all are sharing. THANK YOU.   Does anyone have any thoughts on the best time of day (or evening) to get regular attendance at Grief Support meetings?   And where are you holding these meetings?  Anyone successfully using online Zoom type meeting for outlying geographical areas or those who have travel difficulties?

Hi Erin, 

I facilitate our grief support groups which are 1.5 hours. We have a 6 week group for adults and then a monthly drop in group for those who have attended our 6 week groups for continued support. In some of our groups I like to show a short story about grief that can be found at Speaking Grief, they also offer a fantastic documentary about grief  (https://speakinggrief.org). In our 6-week groups I use the loss discussion cards from Girls Gone Happy. I ended up laminating the cards and usually use them once the group has met for several weeks so they feel more comfortable together. I hope some of these ideas are helpful and I always like to see what other facilitators are doing! 

- Emily 

Original Message:
Sent: 03-24-2023 10:50 AM
From: Erin Staggers
Subject: Grief Group

Hi, me again. I'm back with questions about your Grief Support Groups! We have one once a month on the fourth Wednesday of every month. I'm curious if any of you watch a video or anything like that during your group? Our groups are only an hour long. any help is appreciated. Thank you!

------------------------------
Erin Staggers

Volunteer/Bereavement Coordinator, Home Hospice
UPMC Western Maryland
1050 West Industrial Blvd, Suite 19
Cumberland, MD 21502
------------------------------

Hi Kimberlee,

We've had the most success with morning and afternoon groups, not so much evening groups and we've tried both in-person and on-line. When creating a new support group we try to keep them between the hours of 10 AM and 4 PM and will average anywhere between 6 to 10 attendees on any given day. Regarding the on-line format, it was popular during the pandemic but after in-person services opened up again we quickly realized that in-person was the preferred format due to the population served.  Most of our attendees feel more connected to other members when in-person.  However in our kids program our Teen group was a hybrid format because the meetings alternated between two areas of the county each week.  So the ones who were local that week would attend in-person while the ones who were in another part of the county attended via Zoom and they did extremely well with this format.  So I anticipate that in another 20 years on-line groups will become much more preferred.

I am new to the role of Bereavement Coordinator.   I appreciate all the helpful info you all are sharing. THANK YOU.   Does anyone have any thoughts on the best time of day (or evening) to get regular attendance at Grief Support meetings?   And where are you holding these meetings?  Anyone successfully using online Zoom type meeting for outlying geographical areas or those who have travel difficulties?

Hi Erin, 

I facilitate our grief support groups which are 1.5 hours. We have a 6 week group for adults and then a monthly drop in group for those who have attended our 6 week groups for continued support. In some of our groups I like to show a short story about grief that can be found at Speaking Grief, they also offer a fantastic documentary about grief  (https://speakinggrief.org). In our 6-week groups I use the loss discussion cards from Girls Gone Happy. I ended up laminating the cards and usually use them once the group has met for several weeks so they feel more comfortable together. I hope some of these ideas are helpful and I always like to see what other facilitators are doing! 

- Emily 

Original Message:
Sent: 03-24-2023 10:50 AM
From: Erin Staggers
Subject: Grief Group

Hi, me again. I'm back with questions about your Grief Support Groups! We have one once a month on the fourth Wednesday of every month. I'm curious if any of you watch a video or anything like that during your group? Our groups are only an hour long. any help is appreciated. Thank you!

------------------------------
Erin Staggers

Volunteer/Bereavement Coordinator, Home Hospice
UPMC Western Maryland
1050 West Industrial Blvd, Suite 19
Cumberland, MD 21502
------------------------------

I am new to the role of Bereavement Coordinator.   I appreciate all the helpful info you all are sharing. THANK YOU.   Does anyone have any thoughts on the best time of day (or evening) to get regular attendance at Grief Support meetings?   And where are you holding these meetings?  Anyone successfully using online Zoom type meeting for outlying geographical areas or those who have travel difficulties?

Hi Erin, 

I facilitate our grief support groups which are 1.5 hours. We have a 6 week group for adults and then a monthly drop in group for those who have attended our 6 week groups for continued support. In some of our groups I like to show a short story about grief that can be found at Speaking Grief, they also offer a fantastic documentary about grief  (https://speakinggrief.org). In our 6-week groups I use the loss discussion cards from Girls Gone Happy. I ended up laminating the cards and usually use them once the group has met for several weeks so they feel more comfortable together. I hope some of these ideas are helpful and I always like to see what other facilitators are doing! 

- Emily 

Original Message:
Sent: 03-24-2023 10:50 AM
From: Erin Staggers
Subject: Grief Group

Hi, me again. I'm back with questions about your Grief Support Groups! We have one once a month on the fourth Wednesday of every month. I'm curious if any of you watch a video or anything like that during your group? Our groups are only an hour long. any help is appreciated. Thank you!

------------------------------
Erin Staggers

Volunteer/Bereavement Coordinator, Home Hospice
UPMC Western Maryland
1050 West Industrial Blvd, Suite 19
Cumberland, MD 21502
------------------------------

Hi, me again. I'm back with questions about your Grief Support Groups! We have one once a month on the fourth Wednesday of every month. I'm curious if any of you watch a video or anything like that during your group? Our groups are only an hour long. any help is appreciated. Thank you!

Hi, me again. I'm back with questions about your Grief Support Groups! We have one once a month on the fourth Wednesday of every month. I'm curious if any of you watch a video or anything like that during your group? Our groups are only an hour long. any help is appreciated. Thank you!

Hello Erin!

We have a once a month drop in group that is 1.5 hrs. At these drop in sessions, we have a different topic for each month as well as a different speaker - usually, someone who has been through the journey themselves. The speaker shares for about 15 minutes or so, and then we open up for questions & sharing. We have found this meaningful for both our bereaved as well as our speakers - many of whom are volunteers with us in other capacities as well.

Hope this helps!

Hi, me again. I'm back with questions about your Grief Support Groups! We have one once a month on the fourth Wednesday of every month. I'm curious if any of you watch a video or anything like that during your group? Our groups are only an hour long. any help is appreciated. Thank you!