Caregiving and Hospice, May 24 - May 30, 2015

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Attention Caregivers: Making Use of Helpful Services, http://j.mp/1dDnGFX « Harvard Health Publications

When Someone Dies by Suicide All Systems Must Provide Help, http://j.mp/1PTThny « Grief After Suicide Blog

Wisconsin Is Learning How to Die, http://j.mp/1HAizxo « Vox

Understanding and Managing Grief, May 24 - May 30, 2015

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:


Widow's Voice has a New Home, http://j.mp/1HRWoIu « Widow's Voice

In grief, Use Continuing Bonds for Healing, http://j.mp/1G7mQ0u « With Sympathy Gifts and Keepsakes

You've Got the Power -- How to Know If You Are Doing Your Grief Work, http://j.mp/1FFBOaO « Ezine Articles

Coping with Pet Loss, May 24 - May 30, 2015

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

When Your Dog Dies: Reflection on Losing Your Best Friend, http://j.mp/1FfvOCi « HuffPost Healthy Living

Grief-therapy dog is remembered at her own funeral, http://j.mp/1FIiERC « The Columbus Dispatch

Everything I know about a good death I learned from my cat, http://j.mp/1Q9knlG « The Verge

Sibling Loss: When Grief Goes Unacknowledged

To the outside world we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were. We know each other’s hearts. We share private family jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys. We live outside the touch of time.  ~ Clara Ortega

A reader writes: My older brother and only sibling passed away suddenly at the age of 30. This is selfish, but what I hated most during the funeral and days to follow were people telling me to:

• Take care of my parents.
• Be there for my parents.
• Watch out for my parents.

It was weird; it was like my grief did not/does not exist. I hate the fact that sibling grief is something that is usually not acknowledged. I mean you can usually find more information on parents losing children or children losing parents or even when you lose a pet -- but hardly any information on the feelings of siblings losing siblings.

Caregiving and Hospice, May 17 - May 23, 2015

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Email to Jeb Bush: What He (and All of Us) Can Do in the Fight Against Alzheimer's, http://j.mp/1el7fy6 « Maria Shriver

Dying Matters for Friends, Too, http://j.mp/1F6mWje « Victoria Noe

Teenage Angst and Suicide: Don’t Blame Parents, http://j.mp/1Hz70Jq « Bob Livingstone, LCSW

Understanding and Managing Grief, May 17 - May 23, 2015

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Elaine Stillwell: Thinking Positively, http://j.mp/1Llielo « Grief Digest Magazine

Picking Up the Scraps, http://j.mp/1BgNz39 « Widower's Grief

Book Review: The Fall of Freddie the Leaf: A Story of Life for All Ages, http://j.mp/1JHy2Ap « Seven Ponds Blog

Coping with Pet Loss, May 17 - May 23, 2015

Best selection from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Demand for pet hospice care grows, http://j.mp/1c9rywy « BlueRidgeNow.com

Your feedback is welcome! Please feel free to leave a comment or a question, or share a tip, a related article or a resource of your own in the Comments section below.

If you’d like Grief Healing Blog updates delivered right to your inbox, you’re cordially invited to subscribe to our weekly Grief Healing Newsletter. Sign up here.

Guilt And Regret Following The Death of a Friend

Source

Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.  ~ Maria Robinson

A reader writes: Do you have any articles or can you suggest a book that will be helpful to me? I lost a long time friend. We had some unresolved conflict caused by me. I was unable to be with her during the past 2 years as she fought cancer. She shut me out. I deserved it. I am grieving the loss, the lack of closure, and guilt. It is hell. Can you point me to some help? Please?

My response: I’m so sorry to learn of the death of your friend, and of course there is nothing I can say to erase the load of guilt that you are carrying around with you in the wake of your loss. In the end, the only one who can forgive you is you, as I'm sure you already know.

I certainly can tell you that guilt is one of the most common reactions in loss – guilt for what you may have done or failed to say or do.

Understanding and Managing Grief, May 10 - May 16, 2015

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Film Review: Up (2009), http://j.mp/1cF7lj1 « SevenPonds Blog

Heart wrenching: Dying With Dignity, http://j.mp/1EDPEYr « HuffPost Healthy Living

Fallout From A Suicide Can Touch Everyone Who Is Exposed, http://j.mp/1F8o8Vn « Grief after Suicide

Caregiving and Hospice, May 10 - May 16, 2015

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Assisted-suicide debate puts palliative, hospice care in spotlight, http://j.mp/1ENzUkK « Modern Healthcare

Interview: How Do Caregivers Enjoy Time with Alzheimer's Patients? http://j.mp/1HjItYz « Seven Ponds Blog

Overkill: America’s Epidemic of Unnecessary Care - Atul Gawande, http://j.mp/1JJeae4 « The New Yorker

Voices of Experience: The Ring

Source

By Harry Proudfoot

Take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity ~ Traditional Wedding Rite

I walked off a cliff yesterday afternoon--and I didn't fall.

Jane didn't want to be buried with her wedding or engagement rings. She insisted I take them off when she died. And I did that. I told her that when she died, I would move my own wedding ring from my left hand to my right after I took her wedding ring off her finger. I didn't do that--until yesterday, the 52 month anniversary of her death.

Caregiving and Hospice, May 3 - May 9, 2015

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Thickened Liquid Challenge on Making Sense of Alzheimer's, http://j.mp/1IrBGxB « GeriPal

Heartwarmer! Watchdog Cat Looks After Hospice Patient, http://j.mp/1Eo5xBj « WHOtv.com

The Need for Stability Part II: Its Role in Chronic and Progressive Illnesses, http://j.mp/1zBbUoO
« Stan Goldberg, PhD

Understanding and Managing Grief, May 3 - May 9, 2015

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Coping with Grief on Mother’s Day: Selected Resources, http://j.mp/1FIpvMj « Grief Healing Blog

 A widower exclaims: I AM NOT A MOTHER !! http://j.mp/1zOytq9 « The Grief Toolbox

List of The Best Online Support Forums Includes Grief Healing! http://bit.ly/qprgrfrs « Qeepr Blog

Coping with Pet Loss, May 3 - May 9, 2015

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Losing Our Pets, http://j.mp/1Quptef « Personal Growth and Grief Support Center

End of Life Doesn’t Mean Life Must End, http://j.mp/1Rko23h « The Davis Enterprise

Pet Loss: Sharing The Sad News with Grandchildren, http://j.mp/1DZEhcX « Grief Healing Blog

 Your feedback is welcome! Please feel free to leave a comment or a question, or share a tip, a related article or a resource of your own in the Comments section below.
If you’d like Grief Healing Blog updates delivered right to your inbox, you’re cordially invited to subscribe to our weekly Grief Healing Newsletter. Sign up here.

Pet Loss: Sharing The Sad News with Grandchildren

Heartbreak is life educating us.  ~ George Bernard Shaw

Source

A reader writes: I very sadly had to euthanize my wonderful dog of 8 years last night. She has been with me with so many other losses and helped me through. Now here I am and at a loss without her. I am having a terrible time but am contacting you to help with my two grandchildren, who are ages 6 and 3. They live across the street and have grown up with our Great Dane Suzanna, and I am at a loss as to what to say to them that they will understand. They lost their pet turtle just last week and have been sad about that, and now their dog. I was wondering if you could recommend any age appropriate books that I could purchase.

My response: I’m so very sorry to learn of the death of your beloved Suzanna, and I can only imagine how difficult this must be for you and your family. Not only must you deal with your own grief at the loss of your precious companion, but with that of your dear little grandchildren as well.

Coping with Grief on Mother’s Day: Selected Resources

Source

If I had a single flower for every time I think of you, I could walk forever in my garden.  ~ Claudia Adrienne Grandi

This coming Sunday is Mother’s Day, a day set aside for honoring one’s own mother and for celebrating motherhood. But for those who are mourning the loss of a mother or grandmother, or for mothers who are mourning the loss of a child or grandchild, this can be instead a most difficult day to endure.

If you find yourself or someone you love in these circumstances, know that you are not alone.

For practical suggestions on how to cope with grief on Mother’s Day ~ or on how to better understand and support a mother, daughter, grandmother (or a dad!) in grief ~ you're invited to access one or more of the helpful articles and resources listed here:

Caregiving and Hospice, April 26 - May 2, 2015

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Who Guides Hospice Volunteers? An Interview with Steven Willey, Hospice Volunteer Manager, Part Two, http://j.mp/1Jgzc3E « Seven Ponds Blog

Overcoming The Death Taboo By Just Talking About It, http://j.mp/1bp2Jwc « KUOW.org

Brilliant: Does Everything Happen for a Reason? http://j.mp/1GM1K4B « HuffPost GPS for The Soul

Understanding and Managing Grief, April 26 - May 2, 2015

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

After a spouse's suicide: Scared of the Anger, http://j.mp/1QYaZo9 « Widow's Voice

Tips for Who Should Be In Your Grief Support System, http://j.mp/1GCKsob « GriefMinisterDotCom

5 Things to Do Before Visiting a Psychic Medium, http://j.mp/1EVRgCn « Modern Loss

Coping with Pet Loss, April 26 - May 2, 2015

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

End-of-life care: What I learned from a pet's death, http://j.mp/1AnCuNg « Kevin MD

Man's Best Friend: 5 Considerations for Grieving The Loss of a Pet, http://j.mp/1JKF45c « What's Your Grief?

How to Defeat Sadness Over the Loss of Your Animal in One Easy Step, http://j.mp/1KnTZmN « HuffPost GPS for the Soul

Your feedback is welcome! Please feel free to leave a comment or a question, or share a tip, a related article or a resource of your own in the Comments section below.
If you’d like Grief Healing Blog updates delivered right to your inbox, you’re cordially invited to subscribe to our weekly Grief Healing Newsletter. Sign up here.