Bereavement Professional

  • 1.  Development Mailings to the Bereaved

    Posted 07-07-2020 02:34 PM
    Hi everything - 

    My development team has asked me pose this question:
    1. How quickly after the death does your development team solicit the bereaved?
    2. As the bereavement professional, what has been the feedback about this to you from bereaved?

    Thanks in advance for you responses;  
    Diane

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    Diane Snyder Cowan, CHPCA,MA,MT-BC
    Director of Western Reserve Grief Services
    Hospice of the Western Reserve, Inc
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  • 2.  RE: Development Mailings to the Bereaved

    Posted 07-07-2020 02:39 PM
    We follow NHPCO bereavement guidlines and do not allow any type of solicitation of our bereaved until after the 13 month from date of death.
    It's too vulnerable of a time for some grievers and it is for their protection and to not take advantage. 

    Wendy Tabor-Buth 



    Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone



    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Development Mailings to the Bereaved

    Posted 07-07-2020 03:18 PM

    We do not solicit our bereaved at all, at any time, in my current organization.

     

    In prior organizations I observed a common model in which bereaved were switched from a bereavement mailing list to the organization's community mailing list at 14 mo. The community mailing list shared special organizational news (new staff, building changes, new programs) and also noted opportunities to give. Bereaved and community members could discontinue these at any time.

     

    Joelle Osterhaus, MSW, LCSW, LICSW, ACHP-SW (she/her)
    Hospice & Palliative Care Psychosocial Services Manager & Interim Palliative Care Operations Manager

    Kaiser Permanente Northwest
    Continuing Care Services
    2701 NW Vaughn St., Ste. 140
    Portland, OR 97210-5344

    Cell Phone: (503) 312-0819
    Main Office: (503) 499-5200

    Fax: (503) 499-5535

    CCS Bereavement Program Sharepoint Site (internal use): https://sites.sp.kp.org/teams/nwreg/NWAmbulatoryCare/CCS/Hospice/SitePages/BS.aspx

    CCS Dept Sharepoint Site (internal use): https://sites.sp.kp.org/teams/nwreg/NWAmbulatoryCare/CCS/SitePages/Home.aspx

     

    Hospice Volunteer Website: : https://www.kpnwvolunteer.org/hospice

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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Development Mailings to the Bereaved

    Posted 07-08-2020 08:20 AM
    Back in 1994 when I started in hospice we never solicited to the bereaved at all. But we have two commemorative events each year that are also fund raisers - Light up a Life at the beginning of the holiday season and Path of Remembrance in the summer. People purchase a light or a brick and we have a brief commemorative event where anyone who made a purchase has their loved one listed in the bulletin which is very meaningful to the bereaved.

    When we realized how significant these events were to the bereaved we changed our practice and do sent them these two mailings but other than that they get no solicitation from us until they have been discharged from bereavement which is typically 16 months after the death. In the last 3-4 years our Development Department has revisited this and, perhaps 6 months ago did so again. Fortunately, like yours, Diane, they include me in their discussion. They haven't changed practice yet but are leaning towards considering the 6-9 month mark  might be a time to test this out and try a mailing at this point and somehow evaluate how this 'sits' with the bereaved. The thought being that by waiting until after 16 months it's less likely that they will donate than if they reach out sooner. In our recent discussion about all this, when we discussed the idea of sooner than 6 months, we reached the conclusion that anytime before the 6 month mark is clearly too soon.

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    Patti Anewalt, Director
    Pathways Center for Grief & Loss
    Hospice & Community Care
    Mount Joy, PA
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Development Mailings to the Bereaved

    Posted 07-08-2020 10:15 AM
    We also do not formally solicit our BR, however in the final, 13 month mailing, I include an info sheet on our Foundation, which explains how we support our families financially and includes an address if they would like to do so.

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    Marcy Leach, CT, PhD
    Bereavement Coordinator
    Longleaf Hospice and Palliative Care
    marcy.leach@longleafhospice.com
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Development Mailings to the Bereaved

    Posted 07-09-2020 07:40 AM
    Thanks for all your responses thus far.  I welcome more feedback.  Thank you!

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

    Original Message


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