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SamaritanNJ.org 43Coping with the Loss of Your Loved OneOngoing grief and bereavement support is an important part of the care provided by the Samaritan team right from the start. While most of the bereavement services are directed toward the grieving family, Samaritan recognizes that our patients are also grieving. They struggle daily with loss of independence, control, and physical functions, with anticipatory grief around the loss of significant relationships and ultimately their life. Your nurse, social worker, home health aide, spiritual support counselor, and volunteer are always willing to talk with you about your thoughts and feelings. In addition, our social worker/bereavement counselors are specially trained in the areas of grief and loss and are available to you before and after your loved one%u2019s death.Losses and separations are a part of life and are usually stressful, but death is the most painful separation of all. The permanence and irreversibility of the loss is probably death%u2019s sharpest sting. Samaritan provides a full range of bereavement services to families as they grieve their losses and struggle to reorganize their lives.These services include:%u2022 Phone contact from staff and/or volunteers%u2022 Mailings of cards, letters, and available grief support services%u2022 Specialized support groups%u2022 Individual and family grief counseling%u2022 Online resources%u2022 Services of Remembrance%u2022 School programs%u2022 Community education seminars%u2022 Reading lists for adults and childrenPhone ContactOur support does not end with the death of your loved one. Families, caregivers, and loved ones of Samaritan%u2019s hospice service receive ongoing follow up for 13 months. Samaritan staff and volunteers will do occasional outreach by phone to continue to offer our condolences, to check in, and to remind you of our ongoing support.MailingsCards, letters, and information flyers are sent to express our sympathy and to invite family members to participate in various aspects of our bereavement program. These are mailed to the family or primary caregiver periodically for 13 months. Some letters offer practical suggestions forcoping and information on our grief support groups, while others recognize the most difficult times such as holidays and anniversaries. A self-assessment report card is sent so that every family has an opportunity to rate their own progress in the bereavement process and return it to us to access additional support if needed.Specialized Support GroupsOur grief support groups are led by trained facilitators at various times throughout the year. Our groups offer mutual support, grief education, a place to explore feelings and experiences, and an