Danbury’s Regional Hospice offers grief counseling at new Washington center
WASHINGTON — When a loved one dies, those left behind may not only need support services but a connection to others going through a similar experience.
The Center for Hope & Healing, a new resource from Danbury’s Regional Hospice, not only offers local caregivers and families grief counseling but support groups with others who are also mourning the loss of their loved ones.
Lisa Esneault, director of communications and media for Regional Hospice, said the Center’s approach is “very holistic, so in addition to the expert hospice care that the patients are receiving, we also support those who are left behind, who are grieving.”
Last August, Regional Hospice collaborated with Nuvance Health to expand its services in New Milford by opening two private hospice care suites at New Milford Hospital. Now, Regional Hospice has just opened the Center, at 2 Green Hill Road in Washington, to expand both its presence into Litchfield County and its bereavement services.
On top of caregiver and grief counseling support groups, the Center offers spiritual renewal sessions through prayer and meditation. It also offers sound healing, which uses instruments and music to balance and heal the body, mind and spirit.
Esneault said Regional Hospice’s chaplains also offer monthly memorial services to provide families with an opportunity to gather together in celebration of their loved one’s life.
All sessions are led by Regional Hospice’s team of licensed social workers, chaplains and therapists as well as the nonprofit’s team of hospice and bereavement trained volunteers.
Esneault added some of the people in Regional Hospice’s support groups have formed their own groups to socialize.
“It’s hard enough to lose somebody, but then having that support is absolutely instrumental in the whole healing process,” she said. “It’s really nice that they stay in touch and they do their own socializing together.”
The Center doesn’t charge those who utilize its services. However, all donations are welcome. Social workers and volunteers provide the services and Regional Hospice, a nonprofit, funds the services.
The Center is an extension of Regional Hospice’s
Healing Hearts Program, which specializes in bereavement services for families coping with the death of a loved one.
Esneault said the Center is “complementary” to Regional Hospice’s Center for Comfort Care & Healing in Danbury, which offers hospice patients 24/7 clinical care and at-home hospice care services.
For more information about Regional Hospice’s services, visit www.makingthebestofeveryday.org or call 203-7027400.