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Grief Services

Grieving over losses can often begin long before death occurs. People with life-limiting/terminal illnesses face many losses, as do their families and caregivers. Roles within families and relationships change-a breadwinner may no longer be able to work or someone who normally takes care of others may now be the one needing care. Seacoast Hospice staff and trained volunteers are available during illness and after death to help individuals identify grief issues and find ways to cope.

For families of Seacoast Hospice patients, the Grief Care Team of bereavement coordinators and trained volunteers will maintain contact for more than a year after a patient's death. This contact is available through the Bereavement Correspondence Program, scheduled phone calls, grief support groups and referrals to community resources.

Additionally, once a year the Seacoast Hospice team joins with the recently bereaved at a special memorial service for family members and friends to remember loved ones.

Seacoast Hospice Grief Services are offered to the community-as well as those whose loved ones have had hospice care through:

• Grief Support Groups
• Child and Youth  Bereavement support through the Bridges  program
• Grief Referral
• Community Education
• Lending Library

Grief Support Groups: Most group programs last six weeks and are offered at various times throughout the year in locations throughout the greater Seacoast. The groups are free of charge, though contributions are graciously accepted.

Click here to Request Suppport Group Information

Children and Teen Bridges Program: Bridges is a special grief support program for children and teens ages 4-18 who have experienced the loss of a loved one through death. These support groups meet once a week for 10 weeks and are offered in the spring and fall. Children are placed in age-appropriate groups facilitated by hospice volunteers who are specially trained in children's grief.

At the same time and location, separate adult groups are offered to those who accompany their children. These groups provide adults time to process their own grief as well as learn about parenting a grieving child.

Bridges creates a safe place where kids can explore their grief, share their feelings, and mutually support one another in their healing process. Therapeutic activities and various modalities in the arts are used to facilitate this process.

There is no fee for attending this program; however, contributions are graciously accepted.

For more information or to register for a group, contact Bridges at 1-800-416-9207 or email.

Grief Referral: When appropriate, Seacoast Hospice can refer the bereaved to other agencies and services within the community such as financial advisors, social security representatives, legal services, community mental health programs, and other community resources.

Community Education: In an effort to promote community grief education, speakers are available through Seacoast Hospice to provide lectures and workshops to agencies, schools, and other interested groups.

Lending Library:  Seacoast Hospice maintains a library of special books and publications that have been helpful to others who are dealing with grief and loss.  The library is located at out Exeter office.  Please feel free to stop by and check out any of the books on hand.