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Perry Hospital offers grief support for parents
By EMILY JOHNSTONE
Health nd WellncK Staff
The loss of a newborn baby
can have a tremendous
impact on a family, even
if the death is the result of a mis
carriage before the child is full
term, according to Karen
Adams, RNC.
Adams is part of the Family
Beginnings team of the maternity
section of Perry Hospital. She and
Hospice supports terminally ill patients, families
By EMILY JOHNSTONE
Health and Wdlnoa Staff
Hospice of Houston County
is a non-profit organiza
tion that offers support,
both in the areas of emotional and
pain relief to persons with a terminal
illness and their loved ones.
Emily Dennis, bereavement ser
vices coordinator, said the Hospice
team works to help any way they can
to ease pain and suffering of the
patient and families.
This includes nursing services,
counseling for both patient and fam
ily, and a bereavement program that
helps survivors cope with die loss.
“We do work with the family and
help them prepare for the grief,”
The Counseling & Psychological Services Center
at Houston Health Pavilion
Individual Counseling & Psychotherapy for Adults and Adolescents
Marriage Counseling
Family and Group Therapy
Alcohol & Drug Counseling, Assessment & Referral
Diagnostic Evaluation & Psychological Testing
Psychological Adjustment for Physical Problems
Carol Moyses, Ed.D. Mike Davenport, LCSW
Licensed Professional Counselor Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Susan F. Davenport, Ph.D. Nancy Ridley, M.A., M.Ed.
Licensed Psychologist Licensed Professional Counselor
(912)923-3835
233 North Houston Road • Warner Robins, Georgia
her co-workers have seen firsthand
the grief caused by a baby’s death.
That is why Family Beginnings
has begun a service called Resolve
Through Sharing for families going
through such a loss.
The Resolve Through Sharing
program provides counseling for
mothers and other family members
in an effort to help these people
cope with their grief in a positive
way and adapt to their new life when
pregnancy is disrupted and ends in
Hospice of Houston County has about 100 active volunteers who
give tneir time to help provide help and comfort for these families
and patients.
said Dennis.
One thing she hopes people
understand is that Hospice wili help
any type terminal illness patient.
“Some people think we only take
cancer patients,” she said.
Asa matter of fact, some Hospice
patients are in nursing homes, said
Dennis.
“These are people who cannot be
home by themselves,” she said.
However, the main focus of the
group is patients who at home.
“Our nurses are on call 24 hours a
loss, said Adams.
Some of the things done for fami
ly members, if they so desire,
include providing footprints and pic
tures of the baby.
These items, along with other
things such as a lock of hair or iden
tification bracelet, can be placed
inside a special keepsake box.
While some parents are interested
in these things right after die death,
others take a while before they, too,
decide they want these reminders.
day,” said Dennis. “They are just a
phone call away.”
One thing Houston County
Hospice offers that many other
Hospice groups do not, said Dennis, is
a home health aide and sitter service.
The service provides assistance to
the patient with personal care such
as bathing, light housekeeping and
running of errands.
Respite for the caregiver is also
provided.
Hospice of Houston County has
about 100 active volunteers who give
Health and Wellness at the Crossroads, July 30, 1997
“And that is OK,” said Adams,
who said they will keep a collection
for awhile in case the family decides
they would like to have it
“Sometimes while in the hospital
a mother may not be all that inter
ested, but will later decide she
would like some validation that the
child existed,” Adams added.
“This is a good program because
it is so tough on them having to go
home empty handed,” said the
nurse.
their time to help provide help and
comfort for these families and
patients.
Payment of hospice services is
obtained through several different
sources, said Dennis.
The patient is never billed for ser
vices and admission to hospice is not
dependent on their insurance or
ability to pay, she added.
While about 78% of funding
comes from insurance, two percent
is from donations such as United
Way and the Combined Federal
Campaign.
Anyone who wishes may con
tribute to Hospice of Houston
County or for more information
about services may call 922-1777.
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