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Bereavement

 
Coping With Grief and Loss

 If you anticipate that death is imminent for someone close to you, or if you have recently experienced a significant loss, NorthShore University HealthSystem Hospice Bereavement Services can offer you support.  Even if you have experienced a loss in the past, each relationship is unique so you can expect this loss to affect you in some unexpected ways. Contrary to popular belief, there are no stages or predictable patterns that a grieving person should or must pass through. Give your heart, mind and body the time they need to adjust to the news. Know that you do not have to go through this alone. Family, friends and neighbors want to help but often do not know how. You may need to be more assertive than usual when it comes to expressing your needs.

Grief Affects the Whole Person

You can expect to feel a full range of thoughts, emotions and physical manifestations of grief as you navigate your way through your grief.   

Mind

Many often report that they think they are:

  • “Going crazy” or “Losing their minds”
  • Easily distracted   
  • Disinterested in life
  • Forgetful 

After a death you may feel:

  • Numb                         
  • Enraged
  • Peaceful
  • Depressed
  • Anxious
  • Grateful
  • Relieved
  • Guilty

Body

Grief can manifest in physical ways:

  • Changes in appetite and sleeping patterns
  • Dizziness
  • Chest pain
  • Headaches

Be sure to discuss your concerns with your doctor.

Spirit

Grief will also affect your Spirituality. Your spirituality is the way in which you express your belief and values. Your spirituality may or may not involve participation in a faith community. It is common for people to question their long-held belief system while grieving. Seek comfort and consolation from all available resources.

Understand that these challenges are all a part of the grieving experience.

Our Commitment of Service

Survivors of NorthShore University HealthSystem Hospice patients will receive support services free of charge for 13 months.

  • Anticipatory Grief
    Our chaplain and social workers are available for families to help them cope when individuals and families face death and dying.  
  • Grief Support Groups
    Support groups are designed to be loss-specific—widow/ widower, parental loss, etc. Groups are typically eight weeks long. Pre-registration is required. There is no charge to participate; however, donations are accepted.
  • Individual Counseling
    Individual grief counseling is available to family members after the death of NorthShore University HealthSystem patients. Counselors can meet with family members in our office or in your home. Grief counselors are also available to meet with the public on a limited basis, free of charge. Call 847.982.4364 for more details.
  • Workshops
    Held throughout the year, workshops are designed to help those who grieve find creative ways to remember their loved ones and to develop new coping strategies. A nominal materials fee may apply.
  • Correspondence
    Throughout the 13 months following the death of a NorthShore University HealthSystem patient, letters are mailed to family members offering support services. You will also receive Transitions, a quarterly newsletter for family and friends who grieve. The newsletter offers reflections, suggestions and other resources.
  • Memorial Service
    The NorthShore University HealthSystem Hospice staff sponsors an annual Service of Remembrance every autumn honoring the memory of patients we have served. Family and friends are encouraged to attend. 
  • Volunteer Support
    Families may receive phone calls and if requested, visits from volunteers. Bereavement volunteers offer companionship and a forum for expressing deeply-held concerns.
  • Information and Referral
    Our office maintains a library of books and videos about bereavement, a list of community-based resources and counseling referral information.
  • Community Programs
    Speakers are available, free of charge, for presentations to community groups or organizations on a variety of topics.

For more information regarding bereavement services contact the Coordinator of Bereavement Services:

Thom Dennis, M. Div., M.A.P.C., L.P.C.
Tdennis@northshore.org
NorthShore University HealthSystem Hospice
4901 Searle Parkway, Suite 160
P.O. Box 1006
Skokie, Illinois  60076-8006
847.982.4364 or .847.475.3002
Fax 847.982.4282