DCH OFFERS ADULT BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP

Participants of Dearborn County Hospital Home Health & Hospice’s Good Grief Adult Support Group can join it reassured that its leader has walked in their shoes.  Tim Heller, MSW, LCSW, DCH Hospice Bereavement Coordinator, who has overseen Good Grief since its inception in 1997, lost his wife in 2008.

“Grief work takes time.  You can’t expect to ‘get over’ a death of a loved one in a matter of weeks or months,” Mr. Heller explained.  “The old expression of ‘time heals all wounds’ isn’t true.  It’s more what you do with the time that brings forth the healing.  My wife, Sandra, died almost 2½ years ago.  I have found it is really necessary to work through the feelings of loss and forget any notion of time lines for grief.  Grief takes however long it takes for the individual.

“Good Grief will give you some ‘tools’ for the journey and the support of others going through the grief process,” he stated.  “Topics usually include the normal grief process, the impact of loss on the spouse and family members, and how to move through the process in order to go on with life.

“The group helps participants realize that they are not alone in how they feel,” Mr. Heller added.  “It’s designed to assist them in learning how to cope with their changing emotions.”

Good Grief will meet on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., beginning on April 7.  Sessions will take place in the DCH Home Health & Hospice offices, 370 Bielby Road, Lawrenceburg.

There is no charge to join Good Grief, however, advance registration is required.  For more information or to register, please call Mr. Heller at (812) 537-8192 or (800) 676-5428 by Monday, April 5.