Special support is needed following the loss of a loved one. Part of Forbes Hospice's continued support to families who have lost a loved one is to provide bereavement care. Believing that one of the most meaningful acts of kindness we can offer to someone who mourns is the gift of time and listening, we offer many services to help support our goal. We understand that individual needs are personal to the grieving process and are different for everyone. Counseling services, are provided free of charge in an ongoing supportive process already initiated by the nurses, social workers, and staff at hospice to provide a complete experience to the continuity of care.

Dedicated, professional counselors and trained volunteers offer a nurturing environment for small groups and individual or family appointments to assist in understanding and dealing with grief. In addition, Forbes Hospice also provides referrals to outside resources for parent-child counseling. We follow up monthly with newsletters, sympathy cards and telephone calls to each family that requests our help. Several times a year we offer special memorial services to those throughout the entire community who mourn.  We also can refer families and friends to bereavement support groups in the community, some of which are sponsored and run by Forbes Hospice staff.  Each of us can witness to the courage and strength of a family that has struggled so significantly with the dying and death of a loved one. It is immensely rewarding then, to be part of the healing process through bereavement support that admires the individual goal of understanding grief long enough to rebuild a new life.

For more information on bereavement support, please contact our Bereavement Coordinator, Kevin Henry at (412) 325-7251 or e-mail at khenry@wpahs.org.

Forbes Hospice sponsored Bereavement Groups:

• General Groups (all ages and types of loss)

                    Third Thursday of each month, 7-9 PM, Forbes Regional Hospital,

                     2570 Haymaker Rd (Monroeville)

• Young Widows and Widowers (up to age 50)

                    Second Thursday of each month, 7-9 PM, Forbes Regional Hospital,

                    2570 Haymaker Road (Monroeville)

• Adult Children Who Have Lost Parents

                    Third Wednesday of each month, 7-9 PM, Jewish Community Center,

                    5738 Forbes Avenue (Squirrel Hill)

• Parents Who Have Lost Children (up to age 21)

                    First Tuesday of each month, 7-9 PM, at The Children's Institute, corner of Shady                     and Northumberland, Squirrel Hill (use Shady Ave. parking lot entrance)

• Middle Age-Group (50's and 60's)

                    First Wednesday of each month, 7-9 PM, Sixth Presbyterian Church,

                    corner of Forbes Avenue and Murray Avenue (Squirrel Hill)

           Contact Kevin Henry at  412-325-7251, if you plan to attend any of these groups.

A community wide Memorial Service event, "Remembering Our Families and Neighbors", will be held on Sunday August 24, 2008 at 3 PM at Sixth Presbyterian Church on the corner of Murray and Forbes Avenue in Squirrel Hill.  This service will feature some of Mister Roger's Neighborhood cast.  Call for additional information.