Front Range Hospice Philosophy on Grief

Grief is NORMAL. Grief describes the reactions that we experience to loss. We may find ourselves entering a downward spiral, feeling completely out of control, or unable to stop crying. We may feel like we are going crazy. BELIEVE that you are NOT going crazy. Grief is not something that we do right or wrong; it is simply something that we do. Just as we are unique in personality, we are unique in the way that we grieve.

Some of the grief reactions that we will notice include but are not limited to the following:

  • Guilt
  • Confusion
  • A sense of unreality
  • Feeling helpless or hopeless
  • Unable to feel pleasure
  • Loneliness
  • Anger or irritable outburst
  • Wanting to socially isolate oneself
  • Insomnia
  • Sleeping much more than usual
  • Agitation

This is only a small list of some of the reactions that you may experience in your grief. If you feel that your grief reactions are interfering with your ability to make it through your day or interfering with your emotional well-being PLEASE do not hesitate to call Front Range Hospice. We are available to offer individual counseling or help you to find the resources that will best suit your situation. Losing a loved one is one of the most difficult roads we will have to walk and you do not have to walk this road alone.

Bereavement Services through Front Range Hospice Reach out to:

  • Families and significant others of patients served by Front Range Hospice
  • Families and significant others of patients served by other hospices
  • Any member of the community wishing to receive support in his or her bereavement or grief
  • We will also assist individuals in finding other sources in the community that may offer individual or group therapy that meet their needs.

Bereavement Resources

Adult Bereavement (Immediate Family Loss)

  • Brooks, Jane, Midlife Orphans. Berkley Publishing Group. New York, 1999.
  • Edelman, Hope. Motherless Daughters: The Legacy of Loss. Delta. Addlestone, UK, 1995.
  • Levy, Alexander. The Orphaned Adult: Understanding and Coping with Grief and Change After the Death of Our Parents. Perseus Books Group. 1999.

Losing a Child Or Helping a Grieving Child

  • Schiff, Harriet Sarnoff. The Bereaved Parent. Penguin Books. Middlesex, UK, 1979.
  • Kroen, William C. & Espeland, Pamela. Helping Children Cope With the Loss of a Loved One: A Guide for Grownups. Free Spirit Publishing, Inc. MN. 1996.
  • Bernstein, Judith R. When the Bough Breaks: Forever After the Death of a Son or Daughter. Andrews McMeel Publishing. Kansas City. 1997, 1998.
  • McWhorter, Gay. Healing Activities for Children in Grief. Gay McWhorter, M.Ed. 2003.

Grief: Non-specific

  • Diets, Bob. Life after Loss. Fisher Books. Tucson, 1988.
  • Doka, K. (ed.) Living with Grief: Who we are, How we grieve. Brunner/Mazel. Philadelphia, 1996.
  • Grollman, Earl. Living when a Loved One has Died. Beacon Press. Boston, 1977.
  • Grollman, Earl and Malikow, Max. Living When a Young Friend Commits Suicide. Beacon Press. Boston, 1999. (Although this book is written for teens, it has very good information for all ages.)
  • James, J. and Cherry, F. The Grief Recovery Handbook. Harper Perennial. New York, 1998.
  • Kelley, Patricia. Companion to Grief. Simon & Schuster. New York, 1997.
  • Kubler-Ross, E. & Kessler, D. On Grief and Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief Through the Five Stages of Loss. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross Family Limited Partnership and David Kessler, Inc. New York. 2005.
  • Martin, Rev. J. and Ferris, F. I Can't Stop Crying. Key Porter Books. Toronto, 1992.

Holidays: Surviving the Holidays

  • Fairview Press (ed.) Holiday Hope. Fairview Press. Minneapolis, 1998.
  • Smith, Harold I. A Decembered Grief: Living With Loss While Others Are Celebrating. Beacon Hill Press.
  • Zonnebelt-Smeenge, S. & De Vries, R. The Empty Chair: Handling Grief on Holidays and Special Occasions. Baker Books.

Men and Grief

  • Staudacher, Carol. Men and Grief. New Harbinger Publishing. Oakland, CA, 1991.

Sudden Loss

  • Lukas, C. and Seiden, H. Silent Grief: Living in the wake of Suicide. Charles Scribner & Sons. New York, 1987.
  • Doka, K. (ed.) Living with Grief: After Sudden Death. Hospice Foundation of America. Washington, DC, 1996.
  • Lord, J. No Time for Goodbyes. Pathfinder Publishers. Ventura, CA, 1991.