Bereavement Professional

Greetings!  I am part of the Legacy committee at Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse WI.  We are looking at ideas for our hospice team to offer to do with families in homes, pre-death of loved one.  A way to honor, remember, ritualize. this important time together.  I was wondering if you do anything like this with your hospice/bereavement program? This may become a booklet that offers suggestions for families, or it may be something that is presented to the families (similar to We Honor Veterans yet not that specific).   If you have any ideas, suggestions or questions to challenge our thoughts please let me know. 

We have white pillow cases with fabric markers available that children, but even some adults have used to make for the patient. The instructions are in either Spanish or English and it's been a meaningful memento after the patient dies. I recall a gay couple who had traveled the world extensively so the woman decorated a pillowcase for her partner who was the patient, depicting many of their travels together. Children and grandchildren of hospice patients often make a pillowcase, sometimes with the patient which is a great way for the child to feel 'involved' in the patient's care. A second commemorative option is a kit that has an inkpad, template, and sample 'family tree' that everyone in the family, including the patient, can participate in making. Each famliy member chooses a color and adds their fingerprint. These too involve children if there are children in the home, but it becomes a meaningful family activity when done with the patient. We have used grant funds for these and now have an endowment that covers the cost for the supplies. 

Greetings!  I am part of the Legacy committee at Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse WI.  We are looking at ideas for our hospice team to offer to do with families in homes, pre-death of loved one.  A way to honor, remember, ritualize. this important time together.  I was wondering if you do anything like this with your hospice/bereavement program? This may become a booklet that offers suggestions for families, or it may be something that is presented to the families (similar to We Honor Veterans yet not that specific).   If you have any ideas, suggestions or questions to challenge our thoughts please let me know. 

Greetings!  I am part of the Legacy committee at Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse WI.  We are looking at ideas for our hospice team to offer to do with families in homes, pre-death of loved one.  A way to honor, remember, ritualize. this important time together.  I was wondering if you do anything like this with your hospice/bereavement program? This may become a booklet that offers suggestions for families, or it may be something that is presented to the families (similar to We Honor Veterans yet not that specific).   If you have any ideas, suggestions or questions to challenge our thoughts please let me know. 

Hi Debra,

I found a couple of items with great suggestions that I wanted to share. I hope you find them helpful. 

In December 2022, the Spiritual Caregiver Community engaged in a chat focused on the theme of legacy, "Remember Me: Exploring Legacy with Hospice Patients in Spiritual Caregiving." 

I found the following discussion thread about legacy program for patients in the Volunteer Management Community and wonderful resources Legacy Program for Patients 

In case you need more, MyNHPCO's search engine is excellent! On the upper right-hand side of MyNHPCO (as shown in the screenshot below), you can type in 'legacy,' and you'll find over 1,000 results. Additionally, you can filter by the specific community you're interested in (left hand side menu - more filters).

All the best!

Greetings!  I am part of the Legacy committee at Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse WI.  We are looking at ideas for our hospice team to offer to do with families in homes, pre-death of loved one.  A way to honor, remember, ritualize. this important time together.  I was wondering if you do anything like this with your hospice/bereavement program? This may become a booklet that offers suggestions for families, or it may be something that is presented to the families (similar to We Honor Veterans yet not that specific).   If you have any ideas, suggestions or questions to challenge our thoughts please let me know. 

Here's an example of a legacy project:

A dad's heartfelt video before his death helps now-grown children cope with grief – Daily News

A dad's heartfelt video before his death helps now-grown children cope with grief A father's videotaped advice, following a cancer diagnosis, helped his young family through their grief after he died. www.dailynews.com

Veronica M. Ibarra, MS, FT, BCC

Bereavement Coordinator

Presbyterian Home Health, Hospice, and Palliative Care

Albuquerque, NM

Bereavement Services: 505-559-7055

Cell: 505-377-1601

Hospice Main: 505-559-1000

Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing. 

• Mother Teresa

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Hi Debra,

I found a couple of items with great suggestions that I wanted to share. I hope you find them helpful. 

In December 2022, the Spiritual Caregiver Community engaged in a chat focused on the theme of legacy, "Remember Me: Exploring Legacy with Hospice Patients in Spiritual Caregiving." 

I found the following discussion thread about legacy program for patients in the Volunteer Management Community and wonderful resources Legacy Program for Patients 

In case you need more, MyNHPCO's search engine is excellent! On the upper right-hand side of MyNHPCO (as shown in the screenshot below), you can type in 'legacy,' and you'll find over 1,000 results. Additionally, you can filter by the specific community you're interested in (left hand side menu - more filters).

All the best!

Greetings!  I am part of the Legacy committee at Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse WI.  We are looking at ideas for our hospice team to offer to do with families in homes, pre-death of loved one.  A way to honor, remember, ritualize. this important time together.  I was wondering if you do anything like this with your hospice/bereavement program? This may become a booklet that offers suggestions for families, or it may be something that is presented to the families (similar to We Honor Veterans yet not that specific).   If you have any ideas, suggestions or questions to challenge our thoughts please let me know.