Hospice is that place where the road bends at our journey's end, and we are embraced by the care and understanding of people who are strangers to us only once, but friends to those we love forever.

Understanding Grief

Grief is the normal response we all have to the experience of loss... It is natural, universal, and can also be stressful.

Although any loss compels us to redefine who we are, the death of a loved one can introduce many changes - and the closer the attachment, the more profound the adjustments that may be needed.

What is Bereavement?

The emotional response to loss can be painful, confusing, upsetting and, at times, overwhelming. Moreover, grieving persons can feel all the more isolated or alone because grief is little acknowledged or understood in our society. It is important to realize that grief, although normal and necessary, is difficult. The length of healing time will vary for each person.

People who are experiencing grief may:

• Feel restless and find it difficult to concentrate
• Feel an empty feeling in the stomach, and a loss of appetite
• Sense the loved one's presence by hearing his or her voice, or seeing his or her face
• Cry at unexpected times
• Feel remorse, guilt, anger or even relief
• Feel that the loss in not real, that it did not actually happen

Bereavement Services

Our Bereavement Services are provided by professionals and professionally trained volunteers. These services offer support to those who are grieving the death of a loved one, and to caregivers, family members and friends of a terminally ill person.

We offer:

Drop-in Meetings
Drop-in Meetings are offered every Monday from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM and every Thursday from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM at Torrance Memorial Medical Center. Open to everyone, people come to these meetings to find immediate support. There is no need to call before you come.

Grief Groups
Grief Support Meetings are offered according to the needs of the community. These small groups are scheduled at regular intervals throughout the year, in both late afternoon and early evening hours. Most are open to everyone, but some are specialized. For instance, we offer some groups specifically to men.

Confidentiality is always safe-guarded in all bereavement services we offer.

Community Education In addition, to direct services, we provide a community education program and an informational rescue center.

For more information, or to become a participant in a Grief Group, call 310-784-3754, ext 5.

What You Can Do...

Some suggestions for friends of family of the grieving individual:

• Make contact - visit, phone or write. Don't let worrying about the right thing to say keep you away.
• Be yourself - show your concern and sorrow in your own way. Sometimes an embrace or a few words is all that is needed.
• Avoid cliches - for example, "She's no longer in pain," can be replaced with a simple sincere, "I'm sorry."
• Assist in the practical matters - like answering the telephone or preparing meals. Offer specific help.
• Be a good listener - accept whatever feelings are expressed without judgement or criticism. Also, accept silence as part of the healing process. Don't feel either one of you has to talk.
• Respond to the children of the family - they, too, need a friend to share their feelings with.
• Don't rush the grieving process - people respond to grief in a variety of ways. Each person needs to heal in his or her own way. Remember to stay in touch. This process takes time.

How We Help You Help Yourself Through Grief...

We provide a wide range of bereavement services so that you may access them immediately, or as time goes by, according to your needs.

Our bereavement services include:

• Weekly Drop-in Meetings
• Grief Support Groups
• Telephone Support
• In-Home Grief Support
• Individual & Family Counseling (we assess and refer)
• Coping skills to help you deal with the stress of your grief

Licensed, Experienced Care

At Torrance Memorial Home Health & Hospice we have developed a variety of programs to meet the unique needs of home care and hospice patients. In doing so we have combined the latest in technology with a caring, committed staff of experienced nurses, social workers, counselors, physical therapists, occupational and speech therapists, and hospital and home care coordinators.

We are a full-service, California-licensed and Medicare-certified home care and hospice agency. Accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, we offer a variety of specialized programs for cardiac care, oncology, hospice, and bereavement.