Saturday, March 27, 2010

Selected Tweets, March 21-27

From Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week,

On Care Giving and Hospice:
On Spirituality:
On Understanding, Managing Grief: 
On Pet Loss:       

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

National College Student Grief Awareness Week - April 18-24, 2010

This announcement comes to us from Staci Barfield, Executive Director of National Students of AMF:

The United States Census Bureau estimates that 18.4 million students enrolled in American colleges in 2009. And we know that 25% of college students are within twelve months of having experienced the loss of a loved one. So that means more than 4.5 million college students are grieving during a time in their lives that is already academically, socially, and developmentally challenging.

Whether you are grieving, know someone who is, or just want to help spread the word about how together we cope with grief, you are invited to take part in National College Student Grief Awareness Week, April 18 to 24, 2010.

Goals for the week are to raise awareness about the prevalence and impact of coping with the illness or death of a loved one during college, and to spread the word about National Students of AMF.

The mission of National Students of AMF is to support college students grieving the illness or death of a loved one.

To learn more about the organization or how you can get involved, visit www.studentsofamf.org or call 919.803.6728.  Contact Executive Director Staci Barfield via e-mail at staci@studentsofamf.org.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Selected Tweets, March 14 - March 20

From Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week
On Understanding, Managing Grief:
On Suicide Loss:
On Living with a Disability:
On Hospice Care:
  On Pet Loss:  

Monday, March 15, 2010

Continuing Education: Forthcoming Conferences and Webinars

Conferences:
ADEC Webinars (The Association for Death Education and Counseling):

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Selected Tweets, March 7 - March 13


From Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week
On Hospice Care:
 On Caregiving:
On Child Loss, Sibling Grief:
 On Suicide Loss:
On Understanding, Managing Grief:

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Selected Tweets, February 28 - March 6

Selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

@AliveHospice: Hospice chaplain provides spiritual support even when patient is unconscious, http://bit.ly/bKkZW2

 @ElderCareRN: Muhammad Ali's devoted wife Lonnie and three others share their remarkable caregiving stories http://bit.ly/bOZwo

@georgiaslegacy: Role shift for teen & therapy dog since Riley diagnosed with cancer, http://bit.ly/c2F0EK
 
@DianaSebzda: NHPCO (@HospiceAction) now has its own channel on YouTube! http://tinyurl.com/ydoj58n

Yay!! Guided Imagery Is Winging Its Way To Our Troops in Iraq & Afghanistan! http://bit.ly/9hbwJX

From One Who Knows RT @KSBuckley: Ten Ways to Comfort a Grieving Heart: http://bit.ly/awfvuB 

@hospice_news: Palliative Care Grand Rounds Now Up!! http://bit.ly/909Yk3 

@afspnational: How to Spot the Warning Signs of Suicide: http://bit.ly/bpATqh
 
 @afspnational: In honor of #worldbookday here is a list of books on coping after a suicide http://bit.ly/19BBHM 

@lesmorgan: Best books for dementia caregivers http://bit.ly/aIrt1h 

CNN: Online groups help parents who've lost kids to suicide http://bit.ly/bJXnWN
 
@peternity If something happens to you, what happens to your pet(s)? Plan ahead http://tinyurl.com/yaldopb 

Excellent read:How far is too far to go for a sick pet? http://bit.ly/dtn4jm 

@DrMartyBecker: My good friend @DrOz on the tragedy at Sea World http://bit.ly/do0b2W 

@Selfhealingexpr: Memorializing a Cherished Pet by @griefhealing. Very touching: http://bit.ly/HySVs 

@openculture: Opera in the Fruit & Veggie Market This made my day.... http://bit.ly/a3Lir5
 
@ksbuckley Gratitude In Grief: Are you Pecking at the Kick Plate of Life? http://bit.ly/d48kAF
 

Friday, March 5, 2010

For Widows, Widowers and Single Parents

Single Dads Town - Bill McLeod's Web site is designed to support single parents through the often challenging job of raising children without a partner.  Having lost his wife (first to alcohol, then to divorce, and finally to death) Bill is a dedicated father of two children who has turned his challenging experiences of loss and transition into an effort to assist other single dads (and moms) to become successful parents. Bill says he created his Web site for three reasons: to support single parents across the country as they face the challenges, fears and joys of single parenthood; to inspire and motivate parents to be excellent role models for their children; and to provide a source of services, advice and resources to help single parents organize and balance their lives.  The site includes a Blog hosted by a team of "expert" weekly guest bloggers, enabling visitors to hear from other single parents, as well as an e-mail newsletter.  In addition, Bill hosts a weekly radio program on Saturday mornings on CBS Radio, Helping Single Parents Succeed.

Today's Widow   After a great 21-year marriage, Robin Craig lost her 43-year-old husband suddenly and unexpectedly.  Shortly thereafter she heard her own voice telling her that she had to help other widows, and with her blog she aims to do just that. Her various blog entries offer insights "to widows, widowers, those who are married to prepare them for losing a spouse, and singles contemplating marriage. Those who are divorced will benefit, as well, because they too have lost their spouses."  Robin says she is "today's widow surviving in today's world, and I am honored to have the opportunity to share and learn with you as we travel the bumpy road called 'widowhood.' The episodes of life afford a time for growth and an opportunity to reevaluate our position in it. We must ultimately decide if we are on the correct path and alter it if we are not." Four years into her widowhood, today Robin is a successful TV producer with two national daytime Emmys to her credit.  Her message to all, she says, "is to be the very best you can be no matter what life brings."

Soaring Spirits Loss Foundation (SSLF) is an inclusive, non-denominational organization working to provide a national network of support for anyone grieving the loss of someone they love, with a special emphasis on those whose spouse or partner has died.  Its focus is on hope and healing, offering its members the needed tools and resources to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of the death of a loved one.  This special community offers a variety of outstanding, peer-based online programs for those who have suffered the loss of a spouse, partner or significant other, including the following:
  • Widow Match - An on-line based support group that matches widows of similar circumstances for supportive e-mail correspondence. Matches will generally be within ten years of each other in age, will have lost their husbands within six months of each other, and are in the same situation regarding having children.
  • Widow’s Voice Blog - Seven widowed people share their unique view on widowed life -- every day of the week. Visit us for a daily dose of hope and understanding.
  • Grief Chats - This YouTube-based program features short film clips on topics related to losing a loved one. Written and read by SSLF founder and director Michele Neff Hernandez, each real-life story begins with loss and ends with hope. In this clip, the first in the series, Michelle introduces the program: