WC Wisconsin News

Tomah Health Hospice Touch and Palliative Care will offer a six-week grief support group for community members who have experienced the loss of a loved one. The program aims to provide support and connection among participants facing similar challenges.

The sessions are scheduled to take place on Tuesdays from September 30 to November 4, between 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., and on Thursdays from October 2 to November 6, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Both options will be held at the Hospice/Palliative Care offices located at 601 Straw St. in Tomah. Participants can choose which day works best for them.

Shane Haynes, Chaplain and Bereavement Coordinator for Tomah Health Hospice Touch & Palliative Care, said, “It’s a great opportunity for people who have lost someone to come together and get support and to have camaraderie with other people who have lost someone in their lives as well.”

Haynes explained that the series covers topics such as understanding grief, coping mechanisms, self-care strategies, and common reactions associated with loss. “We do have a curriculum that we use, but a lot of it is defined by the group and their needs and situations. It’s specifically designed to help those people who have lost someone in their life whether a loved one, friend, relative or a neighbor,” added Haynes.

He emphasized that grief is an ongoing process unique to each individual. “I think people go into grief thinking that it is a checklist, but that’s not the way it works. The grief journey is different for everybody, but it is a process and something that whether you’re grieving the loss of a loved one or a pet, there are emotions associated with grief that will come about no matter who you are.”

Haynes also noted the lasting impact of these sessions on participants’ lives. “We hear it a lot, ‘I thought I would get over this,’ but anyone of us who has had loss in our lives, we know that it doesn’t take much to have that cycle start back up or resurface. So, the process is never fully complete, but it might change and there are seasons where we are doing better and coping more, but that process will always be there,” explained Haynes.

According to Haynes, many attendees maintain relationships formed during the program after its conclusion. “Many times, the connections go beyond the six-week sessions where people keep those relationships intact as they go out from the group setting,” said Haynes. “People really appreciate the connection with our facility, our staff and bereavement team because we leave that door open so as needs continue to arise after the sessions, we encourage people to keep in contact with us so that the support can continue.”

There is no cost for attending; however, registration is required by September 22 by calling Hospice Touch at (608)374-0250.