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Bereavement Care

Walking Beside You In Grief, Creating Space for Healing Through Empathy and Community.

Bereavement Program

Harmony Community Healthcare offers specialized bereavement services to support individuals and families coping with the loss of a loved one. These services include personalized grief counseling, support groups, and individual sessions with trained professionals who provide compassionate care. Harmony Community Healthcare ensures ongoing support for up to 13 months after the death, offering a safe space for individuals to express their emotions and receive guidance through the mourning process. With a focus on healing, these services help clients navigate their grief, find comfort, and adjust to life after loss in a caring and supportive environment.

Bereavement Care Services

At Harmony Community Healthcare we offer bereavement care for all kinds of grief:

Normal

Anticipatory

Pet

Family & Friends

End-of-Life Doula

Why Harmony Community Healthcare?

Our hospice team understands the bereavement period of grief and loss is different for everyone. Our philosophy is to honor and support each person individually during this very difficult time. Our team has specialized training to support the patient and their loved ones. Our bereavement care begins on admission and continues after the death of the patient.

Our support includes:

  • Helping family members identify, develop, and utilize healthy coping strategies
  • Providing guidance about decision making
  • Addressing social and spiritual concerns
  • Listening as the family reminisces about the deceased patient
  • Assisting with adjusting to the new environment
  • Facilitating religious/spiritual needs

Calendar of Events

Harmony Community Healthcare offers a community grief recovery support group. You may find help and healing for the hurt of losing a loved one. Our group is open to anyone even if they didn’t use our hospice services and is free of charge. Grief is different for everyone. There is no one way to make grief disappear, but many find gathering with others experiencing grief comforting and validating. It is a way to heal from loneliness, is reaffirming of what you are experiencing, and can be a strategy for coping. By listening to stories of how others cope with a particular problem, you can find the solution that might work best.

More About Bereavment

What is Bereavement Care?

The bereavement period of grief and loss is different for everyone, but it is a normal process of reacting to a loss for everyone. Some people find their grief more than an emotional or mental state, and it affects them physically. Many people feel anger, guilt, sadness, and despair following a death. Our bereavement team is available to our client’s family, close friends, and caretakers during this difficult time. Our care continues with a special bereavement program to help loved ones move forward in the grief process. Our support includes:

  • Helping family members identify, develop, and utilize healthy coping strategies
  • Providing guidance about decision making
  • Addressing social and spiritual concerns
  • Listening as the family reminisces about the deceased patient
  • Assisting with adjusting to the new environment
  • Facilitating religious/spiritual needs

Who Qualifies for Bereavement Care?

Bereavement, also known as grief care, is available to our client’s family members and also their care providers. We understand that everyone takes their own journey through grief and healing. Harmony Community Healthcare will be there through every step of the grief process.

Harmony Events Calendar (Coming Soon)

Harmony Community Healthcare believes in being a good steward of the community.  It is not unusual to find our staff and volunteers at community events such as fundraisers, health fairs, and health education seminars.  Our Tucson team also holds its own special events open to the community.  
Join us on Facebook to view our past events and find new event information.

Grief

Grief is the normal and natural response to loss of any kind.

It is a deeply personal experience that unfolds within us, changing who we are as we move through it. Particularly the death of someone we love, and it affects each person differently. While many associate grief with sadness, it can also bring feelings of anger, confusion, guilt, and even relief. Grief doesn’t follow a set timeline or a clear path, and there is no “right” way to grieve. However, taking the time to grieve, whether through reflection, support, or simply allowing ourselves to feel the pain, is crucial to processing the loss in a healthy way. By giving ourselves space to grieve, we begin to understand our emotions and slowly heal, adjusting to life without our loved one. Grief is a process that shapes us, allowing us to grow and find meaning in the aftermath of loss.  

Anticipatory Grief

Anticipatory grief refers to the grief that begins before an actual loss occurs, often when a loved one is facing a terminal illness or is in a declining state of health. It is the emotional response people experience as they anticipate the death of someone important to them. Unlike traditional grief, which typically follows a death, anticipatory grief involves feelings of sadness, fear, anxiety, and sometimes even relief, as family members or close friends prepare themselves for the inevitable.

This type of grief can manifest in a variety of ways, from overwhelming sadness to frustration or anger, as individuals come to terms with what lies ahead. While anticipatory grief can provide time for emotional preparation and closure, it can also be complicated, as individuals may struggle to balance their current care responsibilities with the looming reality of loss. Understanding anticipatory grief is crucial, as it acknowledges the complex emotional journey that starts long before the loss is fully realized.

Pet Grief

The loss of a pet can be an incredibly profound and heartbreaking experience. For many, pets are more than just animals; they are loyal companions who offer unconditional love, comfort, and companionship. Unlike human relationships, pets don’t judge or demand anything in return, they simply give love freely. This unique bond is often felt deeply, as pets become a central part of daily life, offering support and joy in ways that can be hard to put into words. The grief that follows the loss of a pet is real, and for many, it can feel as intense as losing a close friend or family member. As we mourn their absence, we also recognize the special and unconditional love they gave, a love that will forever be cherished.  

Family System and Grief

“We have all heard that the family just isn’t the same.” This phrase often resonates deeply when a loved one passes away, and for good reason. The loss of a family member touches each person differently. While one person may be mourning the death of a spouse, another is grieving the loss of a father, a brother, a grandfather, or even an uncle. Each relationship within the family is unique, shaped by shared experiences, roles, and histories. These varying connections mean that grief manifests differently in each person. Some may have been particularly close to the deceased, while others might have experienced a more strained relationship.

Understanding that family members may grieve in different ways can help explain why reactions to loss vary so widely. Some might express their sorrow openly, while others may internalize their emotions. These differences are natural, but they can also create a sense of disconnection or misunderstanding within the family during such a difficult time. That’s why talking about grief within the family is so important. Sharing thoughts and feelings can provide comfort, foster understanding, and help everyone navigate the complex journey of grief together.

What is a End-Of-Life Doula?

An End-of-Life Doula, also known as a death doula or death midwife, is a trained professional who provides non-medical, holistic support to individuals and their families during the final phase of life. Our End-of-Life Doulas provide a calming presence, offering compassionate companionship to those approaching the end-of-life. They are there to listen, comfort, and share in the journey.

What Does a Doula Do?

An End-of-Life Doula works with dying people and their families to create a peaceful end of life experience. Doulas coach, hold space, and mediate the transition to death for people and their communities.

End-Of-Life Doula Training

We are committed to expanding End-of–Life Doula services, by our certification training program, details of which may be found on our Harmony Community Foundation website.