Bereavement

The ALLSTAR Hospice Bereavement Program is designed to support a patient’s family for the 13 months following the death of the loved-one.  As a part of the Bereavement Program, follow-up phone calls are made, on a regular basis, to the families of patients who have passed away. Bereavement resources are made available through Dignity Memorial providers (grief library, grief materials, toll-free grief counseling hot line with professional grief counselors). Professional personal grief counseling as well as Grief Groups are offered. A wide variety of Care Notes booklets dealing with the grief experience are accessible at the ALLSTAR Hospice office.  Families of former patients are often invited to ALLSTAR Hospice annual events such as the Memorial Service, St. Patrick’s Day, and Independence Day.   

Volunteerism

The ALLSTAR Hospice Volunteer Program allows individuals the opportunity to get involved in the hospice program in a variety of ways such as patient visits, clerical support in the office, special projects, and bereavement.  In the area of patient visits, a volunteer may offer spiritual ministry, pet therapy or music therapy to the patient or even stay with a patient during the “last watch” while he or she is dying. A volunteer may also provide respite for caregivers.  Clerical support in the hospice office often involves filing, shredding confidential documents and copying forms.  Volunteers are also involved in special projects such as making crafts for patients and/or patient caregivers as well as helping with various annual events for caregivers (such as Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Independence Day).  Bereavement volunteers specialize in making calls to families who have lost loved-ones and planning the annual ALLSTAR Hospice Memorial Service for patients’ families.

For information on volunteering contact volunteer@allstarhospice.com.