Grief and Bereavement Resources and Services

Programs that provide a full range of supportive services in an inpatient or residential setting for terminally ill people who are in the final stages of their illnesses and for their families. Services may include medical care, pain and symptom management, home nurse visitation, case management, emotional and spiritual support, and bereavement services for the patient and members of the family.

Programs that provide a full range of supportive services in their own homes for terminally ill people who are in the final stages of their illnesses and for their families. Services may include medical care, pain and symptom management, home nurse visitation, case management, emotional and spiritual support, and bereavement services for the patient and members of the family.

Programs that provide assistance and support including end of life planning, palliative care and grief counseling for pregnant individuals who have found through prenatal evaluation that their baby has a lethal genetic anomaly that will likely result in a stillbirth or early death and who make the decision to carry the baby to term rather than terminate their pregnancy. Hospice nurses and social workers may arrange birthing lessons for those who do not want to attend classes with individuals carrying healthy babies; help the family develop a birthing plan that indicates their wishes during labor and delivery; provide advice on how to tell other children in the family that the new baby will not be growing up with them; offer support during the delivery process and/or after the birth has occurred; assist the family in memory making activities such as photographs, footprints and handprints; and provide hospice services in the home if the newborn lives beyond a few days. The program helps families to both welcome and enjoy their baby during the time they have and, when necessary, to say good-bye.

Programs that provide for the comprehensive management of the physical, psychological, social, spiritual and existential needs of patients with the objective of helping them achieve the best possible quality of life through relief of suffering, control of symptoms and restoration of functional capacity while remaining sensitive to personal, cultural and religious values, beliefs and practices. The focus of palliative care is on people with incurable, progressive illnesses who are in the early stages of their illness. Palliative care may be provided in a wide variety of health care settings including hospitals, nursing facilities, hospice facilities and the person’s own home; and may be coordinated with other services including curative therapies.

Programs that provide financial assistance to help families who have lost a loved one pay for the funeral and/or the cremation or interment of the individual’s remains.

Programs that provide financial assistance to help families who have lost a loved one pay for the funeral and/or the cremation or interment of the individual’s remains.

A program administered by the Social Security Administration that makes a one time payment of $255 to help meet the burial expenses of a worker who dies with sufficient quarters of coverage. The lump-sum payment is in addition to any monthly survivors insurance benefits that may be due.

A program of the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs that provides a variety of burial benefits for eligible deceased veterans of peacetime or wartime service who have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable and, in the case of some benefits, for their dependents. Included are burial in a national cemetery (opening and closing the grave, headstones and markers and perpetual care); headstones and markers for graves of veterans that are located anywhere in the world as well as niche markers for urns; headstones or markers for memorial plots in situations where the veteran’s remains are not available for burial; Presidential Memorial Certificates; and burial flags which drape the veteran’s coffin and are given to the next of kin or close associate following the funeral. Burial and funeral allowances are also available to certain veterans under specified conditions.

Programs that provide financial compensation for people who have suffered monetary losses as a direct result of some form of violent crime. Compensation is generally available to meet unreimbursed medical and hospital expenses, loss of wages or support, expenses encumbered by participation in job-related rehabilitation or retraining programs, and legal fees; or may be unrestricted in terms of purpose. Also included are programs that help people apply for these services.

Programs that provide emotional support, problem-solving assistance, information and guidance for people who have recently experienced a loss, such as the death of a loved one, divorce or separation. Included are counseling programs for widows and widowers, children who have lost a parent, parents who have lost a child and people who are in other similar situations.

Mutual support groups whose members are people who have experienced a loss, such as the death of a loved one, divorce or separation. The groups meet in-person, by telephone or via the Internet; are open to anyone who has had a loss rather than structured for people with particular types of losses; and focus on helping participants accept their loss, express their grief, move through the bereavement process and put their lives back together.

Mutual support groups whose members are children and youth who have experienced the loss of a parent, sibling or other relative and need the emotional support of the group to alleviate feelings of isolation and a sense of responsibility for the loss. The groups may meet in-person, by telephone or via the Internet.

Mutual support groups whose members are parents who have experienced the loss of a child at any age. The reasons for loss may include miscarriage or stillbirth, or an illness or accident in infancy, during childhood or later in life. The groups meet in-person, by telephone or via the Internet; and focus on helping participants accept their loss, express their grief, move through the bereavement process and put their lives back together. Included are groups for parents who have lost a child to sudden infant death syndrome.

Mutual support groups whose members are husbands, wives or other individuals who have experienced the loss of their marriage partner or significant other. Groups may also be structured for the surviving spouses of people in law enforcement, the military or other specific high-risk professions. The groups meet in-person, by telephone or via the Internet; and focus on helping participants accept their loss, express their grief, and move through the bereavement process. The groups also help members put their lives back together by providing practical information about legal issues, financial arrangements and other responsibilities of daily living.

Programs that serve as gatekeeper agencies which evaluate individuals who are in need of services related to an alcohol or other drug use disorder and triage them for the limited number of subsidized beds that may be available in the community. Some programs may also offer medical detoxification services for people who need them.

Programs that provide individual, group or family therapy for individuals who have problems related to the excessive use of alcohol and/or use of other drugs (and/or for their families) to help them better understand the nature of the disorder and support recovery efforts.

Programs that provide immediate assistance for people experiencing a mental health crisis such as a psychotic episode with the objective of defusing the crisis, often working closely with mobile crisis teams on standby, and helping the person develop a plan to link with resources for ongoing assistance, if required. A mental health crisis is a non-life threatening situation in which an individual exhibits extreme emotional disturbance or behavioral distress, is considering harm to him or herself or others, is disoriented or out of touch with reality, has a compromised ability to function, or is otherwise agitated and unable to be calmed. Other common indicators include feelings of intense sadness or depression, sleeping or eating problems, anxiety, severe distress, grief, anger or aggression, scattered, unfocused thinking, self-doubt, loss of motivation, lack of patience or irritability and paranoia. The service is generally available via telephone, email, chat and/or text.

Programs that provide immediate assistance for individuals who are having suicidal feelings with the objective of helping them explore alternatives to self-harm or self-destruction. Included are local, accredited hotlines, countywide and statewide programs, programs offered by local nonprofit organizations and via 988, the three digit dialing code designated by the Federal Communications Commission to replace or supplement the existing toll free number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a network of more than 200 local crisis centers. Suicide prevention workers establish and maintain contact with the individual while identifying and clarifying the focal problem, evaluate the suicidal potential, assess the individual’s strengths and resources, and mobilize available resources including paramedic or police intervention and emergency psychiatric care as needed. These programs can also help individuals who are worried about the potentially suicidal behavior of another with the objective of helping them identify warning signs and provide options for seeking further help. Hotline staff are generally available via telephone, email, chat and/or text.

Programs that provide assistance and support including end of life planning, palliative care and grief counseling for pregnant individuals who have found through prenatal evaluation that their baby has a lethal genetic anomaly that will likely result in a stillbirth or early death and who make the decision to carry the baby to term rather than terminate their pregnancy. Hospice nurses and social workers may arrange birthing lessons for those who do not want to attend classes with individuals carrying healthy babies; help the family develop a birthing plan that indicates their wishes during labor and delivery; provide advice on how to tell other children in the family that the new baby will not be growing up with them; offer support during the delivery process and/or after the birth has occurred; assist the family in memory making activities such as photographs, footprints and handprints; and provide hospice services in the home if the newborn lives beyond a few days. The program helps families to both welcome and enjoy their baby during the time they have and, when necessary, to say good-bye.

Mutual support groups whose members are children and youth who have experienced the loss of a parent, sibling or other relative and need the emotional support of the group to alleviate feelings of isolation and a sense of responsibility for the loss. The groups may meet in-person, by telephone or via the Internet.

Mutual support groups whose members are parents who have experienced the loss of a child at any age. The reasons for loss may include miscarriage or stillbirth, or an illness or accident in infancy, during childhood or later in life. The groups meet in-person, by telephone or via the Internet; and focus on helping participants accept their loss, express their grief, move through the bereavement process and put their lives back together. Included are groups for parents who have lost a child to sudden infant death syndrome.

Mutual support groups whose members are husbands, wives or other individuals who have experienced the loss of their marriage partner or significant other. Groups may also be structured for the surviving spouses of people in law enforcement, the military or other specific high-risk professions. The groups meet in-person, by telephone or via the Internet; and focus on helping participants accept their loss, express their grief, and move through the bereavement process. The groups also help members put their lives back together by providing practical information about legal issues, financial arrangements and other responsibilities of daily living.

Programs that maintain information about community resources that are appropriate for a specific target group or human services sector (for example, youth programs or addiction services) and which link individuals who are in need of specialized services with appropriate resources and/or which provide information about community agencies and organizations that offer specialized services.

Programs that maintain information about community resources that are appropriate for a specific target group or human services sector (for example, youth programs or addiction services) and which link individuals who are in need of specialized services with appropriate resources and/or which provide information about community agencies and organizations that offer specialized services.

Programs that provide a variety of supportive services for victims of crimes and their families which may include general emotional support, crisis counseling, information about police investigative procedures, liaison to police personnel, assistance in completing and filing applications for reimbursement of crime-related expenses or losses, information about the mechanics of court proceedings, advice concerning court appearances, court accompaniment services, assistance in preparing victim impact statements and referrals for other needed services such as medical treatment, shelter away from home, transportation, child care, financial assistance and protective services.

Programs that provide financial compensation for people who have suffered monetary losses as a direct result of some form of violent crime. Compensation is generally available to meet unreimbursed medical and hospital expenses, loss of wages or support, expenses encumbered by participation in job-related rehabilitation or retraining programs, and legal fees; or may be unrestricted in terms of purpose. Also included are programs that help people apply for these services.

Mutual support groups whose members are burglary victims, stalking victims, workplace violence victims, torture victims or other individuals who have experienced violent crime and/or the spouses or partners, other family members and friends of crime victims. The groups meet in-person, by telephone or via the Internet; and provide emotional support, information and resources to help participants cope with the negative after effects of their ordeal.

Mutual support groups whose members are families and friends of people who have died by suicide. The groups meet in-person, by telephone or via the Internet; and focus on helping participants overcome feelings of helplessness and responsibility for the actions of the individual so they can express their grief, move through the bereavement process and put their lives back together.

Mutual support groups whose members are the spouses/partners of people who have or are at risk of a drug use disorder; children of all ages whose parents, guardians or other parent figures are involved in drug use; and/or friends of those individuals. The groups meet in-person, by telephone or via the Internet; and allow participants to share their experience, strengths and hopes to solve the problems they have in common and support the recovery of their loved one.

Mutual support groups whose members are the spouses/partners of people who have or are at risk of a drug use disorder; children of all ages whose parents, guardians or other parent figures are involved in drug use; and/or friends of those individuals. The groups meet in-person, by telephone or via the Internet; and allow participants to share their experience, strengths and hopes to solve the problems they have in common and support the recovery of their loved one.