Are you dealing with a major loss such as the death of a loved one? Perhaps you're grieving over a divorce after many years of marriage? It's normal to feel that your whole life is shattered and that you are alone. The Barton HealthCare System can help. Barton's Hospice of the Lake & Valley offers monthly “Memory Dish Bereavement Groups.â€
In South Lake Tahoe, the group meets the fourth Thursday of each month from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Lake Hospice Office, 2092 Lake Tahoe Blvd, Suite 500. Call 530-543-5581. Fall meetings include Sept. 25 and Oct. 23. Call (530) 543-5581.
In the Carson Valley, the bereavement group meets from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Carson Valley Medical Center Administration Building, second floor, the fourth Wednesday of each month. Fall meetings include Sept. 24 and Oct. 22. Call (775) 782-1510.Â
In Yerington, Memory Dish Bereavement Groups meet from 1:45 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. at the South Lyons Medical Center in the Senior Activity Room on the fourth Tuesday of the month on Sept. 23 and Oct. 28. Call (775) 782-1510.
Trained facilitators and group councilors will be in attendance. There is no cost to attend the group but pre-registration is required.
Each attendee is asked to bring a special dish to share that reminds them of their lost loved one. Maybe it was mom's favorite pie or dad's special salad that always made his eyes sparkle when he sat down at the dinner table.
Barton's Bereavement Groups can help people pick up the pieces and rebuild their lives. A bereavement group is a safe place for individuals to feel empowered to express grief and sorrow and receive help in re-creating a rewarding life filled with authentic happiness.
Taking good care of yourself helps your body heal from the physical signs of grief. Try to stick with healthy exercise, sleep and eating routines. Having family around can help you feel loved. Or you might need a walk or movie with friends to take your mind off things for a little while.
Joining the world again is part of healing. These tips may help:
Stay in touch with family and friends, even if it's hard to talk.
- Tell people how they can help. It can be as simple as running an errand for you.
- Attend a support group for people who have been through the same type of loss.
You may find yourself asking: "Why?" It's normal to seek meaning by asking questions, but there's not always an answer for loss. With time, your loss will still be part of your life, but not the only thing in it. You're not alone and grief healing is a process.