7 Ways to Cope With Loss Long-Distance,

 By Janice Miller, Guest Blogger

When you lose someone you love, you experience a whirlwind of emotions and feelings. According to Psych Central, working through the stages of grief is different for every person. This can be especially difficult when you’re experiencing loss while living far away from everyone else. There are many ways you can still cope with the loss and participate in the ceremony. Here are some that might work for you.

1. Participate in the ceremony however you can

You can do a multitude of things: send flowers, donate to a charity, or even have someone film the memorial service and send it to you. Some people also find that creating a crowdfunding source for donations can help offset funeral expenses. Given that funerals often cost thousands of dollars, this can be a very effective way to participate even when you aren’t present.

2. Connect with family in multiple ways

During a time of loss, it’s important to strengthen relationships however you can. Some articles suggest writing a card and sending it to family members or friends who will be there. You can express positive memories you have of the person and offer condolences. You can also chat with family over video or the phone as a way of being a part of things. Send emails and texts often to stay in frequent touch.

3. Take care of yourself

Make sure you’re taking good care of yourself. Take care of your emotional and physical health by eating healthy, and avoid overindulging yourself. You should also be exercising regularly and getting enough sleep. Reading a good book can help you get your mind off things. Writing in a journal and silencing your inner critic can help you manage your own grief when you have to do it from a distance.

4. Reach out to loved ones locally

One article from the Mayo Clinic mentions that bringing in people close to you and appreciating their companionship can help you emotionally. Find friends who will listen well. You can discuss difficult feelings you might have and find an extended support network.

5. Talk about it

Many people find that when they are trying to work through grief, they become stuck. Simply expressing feelings to people who are close to you can give an important outlet for emotional processing. If you are unable to attend the funeral, reach out to your loved ones afterward to make sure they’re doing okay. Don’t be shy about bringing it up with friends and other acquaintances, since this can be a learning and growing experience for everyone.

6. Consider therapy

Therapy comes in all shapes and sizes. While there is the traditional talk therapy, there are other kinds that can be well-suited for your personality. New therapy modules have been developed to specifically help with some cases of extreme grief that accompanies the loss of a loved one. If one type of therapy isn’t helping you feel better, try out other kinds. Often, your relationship with your therapist can impact your recovery process, so don’t be afraid to branch out.

7. Stay productive

While it’s important to relax, staying stagnant can sometimes bring unwanted thoughts inside. Grief can be very demanding. Some effective ways to give grief a break involve working on a new project or trying out a new hobby. This doesn’t mean you should push away your feelings. You should still acknowledge them without judgment and deal with the pain as it comes. However, looking forward to something new can help you move through grief more smoothly.

Bereavement-related depression is a reaction that occurs frequently after the loss of a loved one. It’s important to take care of yourself and reach out to loved ones and family even after the funeral. It will help you continue to find meaning and joy.

Janice Miller lives in Arizona and has always been an advocate for ensuring safety. It started just in the community, in a physical neighborhood but the more she engaged herself online she has found that there is a need to ensure safety on the Interweb as well.

If you have a story to share about experience with hospice or about issues surrounding death and dying, please contact me via comment on this blog or at 

kerobinson@msa-corp.com

I am interested in volunteering. How do I learn more about hospice volunteering opportunities? What training do volunteers need?

Volunteers are an integral part of the interdisciplinary team approach to hospice care. They join RN's, CNA's, Chaplains, Social Workers, and physicians in caring for patients.

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Some of the things a Medi Hospice volunteer might assist with include:

· Reading from a favorite book or the Bible.

· Watch over the patient while the primary caretaker takes a break or runs errands.

· Listen to stories and memories that are meaningful to the patient.

· Support for an overwhelmed caretaker by listening without judgment.

· Using a special talent such as music to bring joy to the heart of the patient and their families.

     · Visit patients with certified animals to offer pet therapy. 

Hospice volunteers are very unique individuals who have a deep sense of compassion for those who are terminally ill. They give selflessly to our patients. They hold a hand that is in need of gentle touch. They read a book that tired eyes cannot see. They sit at the bedside bringing a smile and a quiet presence to one who needs both. When there is soup to heat the volunteer prepares; when there is fresh air to breath the volunteer escorts the patient to the window or porch; when the day calls for a joke or poem the hospice volunteer complies. 

Volunteering in hospice is a choice that creates rewards for patients and families. The ultimate surprise is the growth a volunteer develops from learning more about themselves with every visit to their patient. You learn to communicate in ways that increase your own appreciation of life. Your views of daily situations take on a holistic perspective. Nothing will ever be the same in your personal or professional life if you are correctly trained as a hospice volunteer.

 

1. Must be 18 or over to volunteer.
2. Weekend and evening hours are available.
3. Maximum requirement is two to four hour per week.
4. Training provided.
5. Locations will vary.
6. Personal transportation required.

  So would you consider joining others on their last journey? 

We are actively growing our hospice volunteer program and we would like you to know that if you have a desire to become involving in making a difference in the lives of the dying we will give you that opportunity! Medi Hospice offices are located in Fredericksburg & Manassas Virginia. We serve patients in Northern Virginia as well as the surrounding counties of Fredericksburg. We have a Volunteer Coordinator who will meet and discuss with you our volunteer opportunities. Should you desire to join our team call during normal business hours and ask for the Volunteer Coordinator.

                                                      

For volunteer opportunities in the

Fredericksburg area or Northern Virginia 

Call Medi Hospice Volunteer Coordinator 

email kerobinson@msa-corp.com or

call 703-392-7100

Memorial Services in Fredericksburg & Manassas

               

Medi Hospice invites the community to join their annual memorial service on Tuesday, May 8, 2018 in Fredericksburg, Virginia and Tuesday May 15, 2018 in Manassas, Virginia. The service celebrates the lives of those who were cared for by hospice, but also all loved ones from our area who have died.

“This is a special event for our hospice team, to honor the lives they have touched,” said Chaplain Brent Little. “This ceremony allows us to offer support and understanding to anyone that has lost a loved one, making us a stronger community.”

The death of a loved one is, for most of us, one of the most difficult life events we will ever have to endure. Because grief can be so painful and overwhelming, we are sometimes scared into believing that, in order to heal, we must sever the bond we had with our loved one. Quite the opposite is true. By maintaining that special bond, by commemorating the lives of loved ones, by keeping their memory alive, we are better able to find that special place in our heart that is reserved only for them. The relationship continues—just in a different way.

A special part of the service is the lighting of the memorial candles in honor of loved ones that have died during the past year.

Following the memorial service, everyone is invited to a time of fellowship.

We hope you will join us for this meaningful service.

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT LOCATION AND TIMES PLEASE CALL

FREDERICKSBURG 540-361-7696

MANASSAS 703-392-7100

Medi Hospice provides comfort and support for terminally ill people of any age and their families. Hospice emphasizes symptom and pain control as well as comfort and support for the people living with a terminal condition.Hospice services include emotional support and counseling, medical supplies and equipment, pastoral care-counseling, 24/7 on-call nurse and bereavement follow-up.

Choose Medi Hospice

Hospice is end of life care. It is a type of care that we all may need someday – if not for ourselves, for a loved one.  Death is not an option, but we have choices about the services that are available at end of life.

 

Were you aware that you can in fact, choose your hospice service provider. Many people think that they must select the hospice suggested by their doctor or hospital. If you or a loved one is referred to hospice services please ask your primary physician to provide the information that you need to make an informed decision.

The United States is a land where a great deal of value is placed on ‘choice’. We want to choose our doctors and our hospitals. We want to choose which lab to have our tests in. It makes sense that we would have the opportunity to choose which hospice journeys with us toward our end of life.

Medi Hospice has been in operation for 16 years and is well established in the Northern Virginia & Fredericksburg region. Our hospice services provide a specialized program of care for patients and their families who are facing life-limiting illnesses. The care you receive is coordinated by a team of experienced and compassionate hospice professionals. Our interdisciplinary hospice team consists of:

§  Patients' Personal Physicians

§  Hospice Medical Director

§  Registered Nurses

§  Home Health Aides

§  Social Workers

§  Chaplains

§  Bereavement Specialists

§  Trained Volunteers

Remember, you are entitled to choose Medi Hospice even if your doctor does not ‘suggest’ us. However, a doctor’s order is required before services can be started. A simple phone call to our office and we will contact your physician on your behalf to begin the process of admitting you OR YOUR LOVED ONE to Medi Hospice.

If a doctor recommends hospice for you or a loved one, ask about

Medi Hospice.






Volunteers are an integral part of the interdisciplinary team approach to hospice care. 

They help our patients and families in a multitude of ways, including companionship, caregiver respite, light cooking and cleaning, patient support, and one on one life review. In addition, volunteers read or sing to patients. They sit at the bedside and quietly offer ‘personal  presence’. During the volunteer’s visit, he or she is a friendly visitor with no particular agenda but to listen, care and support.

Some of the things a Medi Hospice volunteer might assist with include:

· Reading from a favorite book or the Bible.

· Watch over the patient while the primary caretaker takes a break or runs errands.

· Listen to stories and memories that are meaningful to the patient.

· Support for an overwhelmed caretaker by listening without judgment.

· Using a special talent such as music to bring joy to the heart of the patient and their families.

     · Visit patients with certified animals to offer pet therapy. 

Hospice volunteers are very unique individuals who have a deep sense of compassion for those who are terminally ill. They give selflessly to our patients. They hold a hand that is in need of gentle touch. They read a book that tired eyes cannot see. They sit at the bedside bringing a smile and a quiet presence to one who needs both. When there is soup to heat the volunteer prepares; when there is fresh air to breath the volunteer escorts the patient to the window or porch; when the day calls for a joke or poem the hospice volunteer complies. 

They are flexible, punctual, reliable and intuitive.They give from their heart, willingly, openly, without restraint.

Medi Hospice VOLUNTEERS ARE WONDERFUL, GIVING PEOPLE!

WE APPRECIATE THEIR GRACIOUSNESS AND LOVE!!

Volunteering in hospice is a choice that creates rewards for patients and families. The ultimate surprise is the growth a volunteer develops from learning more about themselves with every visit to their patient. You learn to communicate in ways that increase your own appreciation of life. Your views of daily situations take on a holistic perspective. Nothing will ever be the same in your personal or professional life if you are correctly trained as a hospice volunteer.

 

1. Must be 18 or over to volunteer.
2. Weekend and evening hours are available.
3. Maximum requirement is two to four hour per week.
4. Locations will vary.
5. Personal transportation required.

  So would you consider joining others on their last journey? 

We are actively growing our hospice volunteer program and we would like you to know that if you have a desire to become involving in making a difference in the lives of the dying we will give you that opportunity! Medi Hospice is located in Fredericksburg & Manassas Virginia. We have a Volunteer Coordinator who will meet and discuss with you our volunteer opportunities. Should you desire to join our team call during normal business hours and ask for the Volunteer Coordinator.

   

For volunteer opportunities in 

Fredericksburg or Northern Virginia 

Call Medi Hospice Volunteer Coordinator 

@540-361-7696 or 703-392-7100