St. John's Mercy Hospice Bereavement Program

The St. John's Mercy Hospice Bereavement Program, Bridges to Healing, is available to all families and friends who have lost a loved one in our hospice program. We encourage you to take part in this 13-month program, which includes personal visits, telephone calls, newsletters, information and referral to community groups and resources. You may decline bereavement services at any time.

Personal Visits: Visits are offered to the patient’s primary contact and anyone else suggested who may benefit from talking about the loss. Bereavement specialists meet with you to provide support, education and referrals for intensive counseling, crisis care or community groups. If preferred, Hospice chaplains, social workers or volunteers may be requested to provide this service.

Telephone Contact: Calls can be expected at one, five and twelve months after the death of your loved one. We make every effort to provide support, without intruding on your privacy. Some people find telephone contact convenient and helpful, especially for those who live beyond the service area of St. John's Mercy Hospice, or who live in remote areas. Additional telephone contacts are made as requested.

Support Group: Six week support groups meet each quarter. Groups alternate between afternoon and evening start times. Membership is closed to new participants after the second week to build trust and unity within the group. The greatest benefit is achieved by those who commit to attend all six sessions.

Memorial Celebration Services: Every quarter, patients’ loved ones and Hospice staff are invited to attend an ecumenical service. Attendance is open to all ages and spiritual beliefs. Services provide an opportunity to honor, remember and celebrate the life of your loved one.

Mail: “Journeys,” A Newsletter to Help in Bereavement, and flyers on special events are mailed every month. Many people opt to receive mail only, because they find the articles brief and beneficial. Written material may be passed onto others and provide discussion points on the process of grief and loss. In addition, we have grief workbooks available that provide a basic overview of grief with writing prompts to capture your thoughts.

Email: Email contact is available upon request. You may find it more convenient and less invasive to communicate this way. Email can be a method for keeping a journal; it is available at any time and provides a method of contemplation.

Other Resources We try to accommodate the individual desires of each bereaved person. If your wishes are greater than the services offered, let us assist you in locating resources. Perhaps a book, a web site, a different group format or a therapist may better suit your needs.

Contact:

Bridges To Healing is a program for families and loved ones of St. John’s Mercy Hospice only. If your loved one was not a hospice patient, the area resource guide will help you find community resources for grief and loss. An additional link on many topics related to grief and loss is: www.adec.org.

St. John's Mercy Hospice Bereavement Coordinator, Lee Richards, 314-729-4417 or constance.richards@mercy.net.

For information regarding Child Bereavement services, please contact Compassionate Friends. You can find additional information by clicking here.