Starting a Grief Support Group

[RiverRoad]

I am with a new hospice agency and we are looking at starting a grief support group and I'm looking for any ideas on curriculum or any suggestions as to what has worked or not worked for other hospices. I would greatly appreciate it if someone would be willing to share their curriculum or point me in the right direction. Any suggestions on any good resources re:support groups. Thanks!

[coralynwoodson]

One hospice that I have worked with used the Volunteers and Social Services Departments to have a quarterly meeting for the grief stricken. They also host a Memorial Service with the Chaplain(s) and a Music Therapist. During the Memorial Services for all of the patient's who died that year and even those who are expected to die soon, they would light candles in memory of the loved ones. Another idea that went well was making a decorative journal for the caregiver and/or patient to write messages to one another. Have dying mothers or fathers to write a letter to their children so that they can read it as often as they would like.