Support Groups

Support groups and clinics are important methods through which Home Health & Hospice Care provides community benefits at little or no cost. Patient education and preventative health care are among medicine's most powerful tools in the treatment and prevention of illness. Public health is a critical component of the agency's mission.

LIVING WITH GRIEF: A Forum for Young Adults

Home Health & Hospice Care will host forums for young adults who have lost loved ones.

ADULT SUPPORT GROUPS

Grief Recovery

Home Health & Hospice Care's grief support groups are now held three times a year, in the winter, spring, and fall. The groups are offered to anyone grieving the death of a loved one and present an opportunity for people to receive needed support and to learn more about the grief process.

Participants must register in advance by contacting Deb Pelletier, Bereavement Coordinator, at 603.424.3822 or at 1.800.887.5973, or email at deb.pelletier@hhhc.org. Group sessions are free, though donations are gratefully accepted. Meetings are held at the Community Hospice House on 210 Naticook Road in Merrimack.

Group offerings in 2008 include:

• A spousal loss support group for widows and widowers meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 - 8:30pm from April 23rd to June 18th;
• A parent loss support group for people grieving the death of a parent meets on Tuesdays at 6 - 8pm from April 22nd to June 17th;
• An elder spousal loss group for widows and widowers over the age of 65 meets on Wednesdays at 1 - 3pm from April 23rd to June 18th.

Journey Through Grief

Anyone grieving the death of a friend or loved one may attend this monthly support group. At each session, different speakers share their insights on some aspect of grief, which is followed by discussion in small groups. Journey Through Grief is open to the public, with no registration required. Sessions meet on the third Tuesday of each month, with the next series of meetings beginning on September 18, 2007 and ending on August 19, 2008. Journey Through Grief meets from 6:30 - 8pm at HHHC's Merrimack office on 80 Continental Boulevard. Contact Deb Pelletier, Bereavement Coordinator, at the number below for further information.

Registration Information

Home Health & Hospice Care's support groups are free to the public, although donations are accepted. To register or for more information, please contact Deb Pelletier, Bereavement Coordinator, at 603.424.3822 or at 1.800.887.5973, or email at deb.pelletier@hhhc.org.

CHILDREN'S SUPPORT GROUPS

Children's Good Grief Program

HHHC's bereavement team developed the Good Grief Program in 1988. The program is for any child between the ages of 4-17 who is grieving the loss of a loved one. The children are encouraged to express their feelings through art projects, writing exercises, group discussions, puppet play, and other age-appropriate activities. The program offers bereaved young people an opportunity to develop coping skills in a safe and trusting environment with other children who are experiencing similar losses.

Part of Good Grief involves education for local teachers, counselors, and parents about childhood grief. Our staff is also called to local schools and businesses for counseling when a crisis occurs, such as a teen suicide or a death from a car accident.

The next group meets Thursdays at 6:30 - 8pm from October 2nd to November 20th, and pre-registration is required, with a $10 registration fee per child. Scholarships are available. If you are interested in registering your child or would like more information, please contact Deb Pelletier, Bereavement Coordinator at 424.3822 or at 1.800.887.5973 or email at deb.pelletier@hhhc.org.

Alzheimer's Disease Support and Respite Programs

HHHC's Alzheimer's support group is facilitated by a social worker who has worked for many years with Alzheimer's patients and their families.

HHHC also offers subsidized respite care for the family members and caregivers of Alzheimer's patients. Respite care is a lifeline for caregivers who frequently become both physically and emotionally exhausted. Families who would like to apply for respite care from HHHC should call Jean Clifford at 603.882.2941.

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