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To lose someone we love is one of the most difficult experiences we will face in our lives. At Hospice of East Alabama Medical Center, our professional bereavement staff members are available to listen should you need help coping with the loss of your loved one.

Grief takes much physical and emotional energy, and it often leaves a person feeling confused and out of control. Understanding the process of grief can help you understand your feelings and thoughts in the midst of loss.

The Grief Process
Researchers have described the grief process in distinct phases, which may be entered and re-entered. When we learn that a loved one or friend has died, the news may come as a shock. Our minds and bodies go into a state of numbness or even denial. As time passes, the reality of the loss can no longer be denied. We may feel anger toward the person who died as well as a yearning to see the person once more.

The second phase of grief sets in once the acute pain of the loss has lessened. This phase can be marked by depression and disorganization, feeling caught between living in two "worlds": one in which we lived with our loved one, and one in which our loved one does not exist. Learning how to go on living without our loved one can be confusing and make concentrating difficult. Being around people and places that remind us of our loved one can be difficult during this time. We begin to realize that our life will never be the same again.

How we learn to accept this change and begin to enjoy our lives again is referred to as "reorganization" or "reinvestment".

Hospice of EAMC Bereavement Services
At Hospice of EAMC, we have staff dedicated to attending to the needs of both children and adults who are grieving the loss of a loved one. We offer a number of services that can help during a time of loss, and all services are provided free of charge.

Memorial Services
Hospice holds memorial services twice a year for families who have lost a loved one in the past year. These services are open to anyone in the community, including those whose loved ones received care through Hospice of EAMC.

Support and Educational Seminars
Hospice offers monthly groups that are open to the community and focus on a different grief-related topic each session.

Individual Support Sessions
Individual support sessions are available to those who have suffered the loss of a loved one and who are experiencing difficulties coping with feelings. Call Hospice at (334) 826-1899 and an appointment will be arranged for you to meet with a bereavement professional. These sessions are geared toward enhancing coping skills as you manage your grief and move toward reinvesting in life.

Coping with the Holidays
Hospice of EAMC hosts an annual luncheon seminar during the month of November focusing on coping with the holidays while grieving the loss of a loved one.

Bereavement Library
Hospice of EAMC has a well-stocked library of books and audio and video materials on death, dying and the grief process. We also have children's books on these topics. These materials are available for you to use at home or in the Hospice office.

If you would like more information on any of these services, please call the Bereavement Program at Hospice of EAMC (334-826-1899)