Why use an information-rich newsletter
as a framework for your bereavement hospice program?
Our approach is psycho-spiritual. Grief is a normal and part of life.
Our newsletters focus on the facts that each grief is different and there is a wide valley of what is considered “normal” grief. We focus on a 'companioning' model of bereavement support, not a pathological one. The best and most effective bereavement support is a balanced one: bio-psycho-spiritual or body-mind-spirit. The Garden of Change® bereavement literature encourages busy people (people who may say that they are too busy to grieve…) to feel what needs to be felt—so they can then move on appropriately.
Body, mind & spirit information: there when they need it
It is important to remind your bereaved that your company is there—even if they never call back.
It is healing to know that your services are there and that printed, relevant information is getting to them at the proper time. They may read it immediately or stow it in the cabinet drawer to be available in their darkest hour, when they can’t sleep. Long after the casserole dishes are eaten and returned to friends and family, you are there with our program. Our society seems to expect people to just get on with their lives. Grief does not work that way.
Provides for busy lifestyles
Busy people who have normal grief, adequate support, and good coping strategies, may or may not need much personal attention from your staff. Our program provides actionable, relevant, psycho-spiritual support when they need it. Per Medicare guidelines, our newsletter is designed to support all faiths and people who may not identify with any one faith tradition (ie. the spiritual not religious and even the ‘nones’).
Efficient use of bereavement staff or per diem time
Current grief research confirms that most normally bereaved are capable of and accurately assess their difficulties in the healing process. We can trust people to self-identify if they are not coping well and seek help that is offered. They may have all the support they need, initially, but as grief unfolds, your company's branded and balanced written grief quarterlies remind them, you are there.
Program is labor-saving for staff
Information-rich backbone of a flexible program offering support (even when no staff are there...)
Having said that, Medicare rightly focuses on a professionally-done, post-death bereavement assessment, which is accomplished by your bereavement professional. A plan-of-care is created from this assessment for how often check-ins, visits and re-assessments are recommended. If a bereaved is at a moderate or high risk for complicated bereavement, more personal calls, visits, check-in will be in their plan of care. This assumes that your bereaved will accept calls and support.
Grief presents in many ways. Denial is common, and sometimes gets in the way of healing. What we do know for sure is "It takes as long as it takes" and it is not wise or recommended to make it your company’s job to hound the bereaved into healing, just to offer it. Medicare only requires that we offer support. Not that they take it within the 13 month window, which makes sense. We are not in control of anyone’s healing choices but our own.
Professional, attractive, & colorfully branded mailings are goodwill advertising.
The mailings tend to be saved because they not only have useful information but are attractive. In doing so, they act as a secondary and professional goodwill marketing piece for future home health or hospice services. They remind the family of your company's good work and that you are there to support them in the future, as you have done in the past.
Updated each year for any changes in MCoP for bereavement and grief research
We monitor any changes in bereavement and inform your company with written recommendations each year for updating processes to address Medicare requirements.
Our newsletters focus on the facts that each grief is different and there is a wide valley of what is considered “normal” grief. We focus on a 'companioning' model of bereavement support, not a pathological one. The best and most effective bereavement support is a balanced one: bio-psycho-spiritual or body-mind-spirit. The Garden of Change® bereavement literature encourages busy people (people who may say that they are too busy to grieve…) to feel what needs to be felt—so they can then move on appropriately.
Body, mind & spirit information: there when they need it
It is important to remind your bereaved that your company is there—even if they never call back.
It is healing to know that your services are there and that printed, relevant information is getting to them at the proper time. They may read it immediately or stow it in the cabinet drawer to be available in their darkest hour, when they can’t sleep. Long after the casserole dishes are eaten and returned to friends and family, you are there with our program. Our society seems to expect people to just get on with their lives. Grief does not work that way.
Provides for busy lifestyles
Busy people who have normal grief, adequate support, and good coping strategies, may or may not need much personal attention from your staff. Our program provides actionable, relevant, psycho-spiritual support when they need it. Per Medicare guidelines, our newsletter is designed to support all faiths and people who may not identify with any one faith tradition (ie. the spiritual not religious and even the ‘nones’).
- Current grief research,
- Coping strategies,
- Self care and health suggestions
Efficient use of bereavement staff or per diem time
Current grief research confirms that most normally bereaved are capable of and accurately assess their difficulties in the healing process. We can trust people to self-identify if they are not coping well and seek help that is offered. They may have all the support they need, initially, but as grief unfolds, your company's branded and balanced written grief quarterlies remind them, you are there.
Program is labor-saving for staff
- Mailers are easy and waste-free
...And may be accomplished each month by an admin staff. Mailings can be also be handled in the downtime of a receptionist. Print only what you need. Even a responsible volunteer may print, address, fold, document and mail monthly mailers to the bereaved. - Frees up professional staff for patient and bereavement calls
...To concentrate their valuable time in direct support (calls, visits, anniversaries, and or groups) and doing the work that they love—helping people and patients. - Possible talking points for calls
...By professional staff in asking the bereaved about what they thought about an article. A discussion might happen that would not have started otherwise.
Information-rich backbone of a flexible program offering support (even when no staff are there...)
Having said that, Medicare rightly focuses on a professionally-done, post-death bereavement assessment, which is accomplished by your bereavement professional. A plan-of-care is created from this assessment for how often check-ins, visits and re-assessments are recommended. If a bereaved is at a moderate or high risk for complicated bereavement, more personal calls, visits, check-in will be in their plan of care. This assumes that your bereaved will accept calls and support.
Grief presents in many ways. Denial is common, and sometimes gets in the way of healing. What we do know for sure is "It takes as long as it takes" and it is not wise or recommended to make it your company’s job to hound the bereaved into healing, just to offer it. Medicare only requires that we offer support. Not that they take it within the 13 month window, which makes sense. We are not in control of anyone’s healing choices but our own.
Professional, attractive, & colorfully branded mailings are goodwill advertising.
The mailings tend to be saved because they not only have useful information but are attractive. In doing so, they act as a secondary and professional goodwill marketing piece for future home health or hospice services. They remind the family of your company's good work and that you are there to support them in the future, as you have done in the past.
Updated each year for any changes in MCoP for bereavement and grief research
We monitor any changes in bereavement and inform your company with written recommendations each year for updating processes to address Medicare requirements.