Offering Grief Support for Healthcare Professionals
When a patient dies, it is expected for their loved ones to grieve. While healthcare professionals are accustomed to death, they, too, can be deeply affected by the loss of a patient. It is important that their grief is acknowledged too.
“The grief we experience after the death of a patient is not always recognized by others, but it is normal and it is real,” says Chloe Bishop, Hospice bereavement supervisor. “Prioritizing ourselves as healthcare workers is crucial to doing the amazing work we do without reaching burnout or compassion fatigue.”
Recently, when staff at Silverado Memory Care mourned the loss of several residents, the Hospice team partnered with the facility social worker to organize a remembrance ceremony. The intimate event featured a slideshow honoring each patient with photos and life details, uplifting words from Chaplain Wes Parks and beautiful melodies played by Hospice music therapist Melanie Jessop. The event concluded with an opportunity for staff to share their grief, tell stories and offer support to one another.
Cathy Hanson, director of Resident Care and Services at Silverado, expressed gratitude for Hospice's bereavement program: "Our caregivers create meaningful relationships with our residents and share stories, common interests, laugh and bond in special ways every day. When a resident passes away, every member of our team grieves this loss. We all get to know and love our residents as family in our beautiful community. The Hospice Remembrance Service offered us time to remember, smile, laugh, share stories and mourn together. We are entrusted to provide exceptional care and love, which is a true honor for our Silverado team. Expressing the loss we feel and having time to support one another is a gift, and we value our partnership with Frederick Health Hospice."
If you are part of a healthcare professional group who would like to partner with hospice to provide grief support to your staff, please contact Bereavement at 240-566-3030 or griefsupport@frederick.health.
