Grief doesn’t come with a map—but no one should have to navigate it alone. In a new video about the Chesapeake Life Center, one can hear the voices of those who’ve walked through loss and found comfort, connection, and hope through Hospice of the Chesapeake’s grief support programs.
The story of how Chesapeake Life Center uses creative programming and wellness to help the community heal through connection is told in the video produced by Hospice Foundation of America (HFA). It features grievers sharing how they learned to cope with loss with Chesapeake Life Center, which offers bereavement services through Hospice of the Chesapeake. Also in the video are team members discussing their role in grief counseling.
Marie Burgess was greatly impacted by the care she and her family received after her 6-year-old son Harvey died. A licensed clinical professional counselor, she shared in the video that her experience led her to volunteer as a camp counselor at the center’s children’s grief camp.
Terri Hussman shared how Chesapeake Life Center gave her the tools to help her children after her husband died suddenly. “This organization knows how to create community, how to sustain community and how to wrap people up in community who maybe haven’t been a part of it,” Hussman said.
The video is part of the HFA’s continuing education series, Improving Dying, which showcases exceptional care programs that are enhancing care for patients, families and even entire communities. These special programs go the extra mile to provide excellent patient care, ease caregiving and grief, and raise public awareness of the humanity and dignity that can be part of end-of-life care.
Chesapeake Life Center was one of six hospice programs featured in the series. “End-of-life care providers are doing amazing work that rarely gets the attention it deserves,” said Amy Tucci, HFA’s president and CEO. “With Improving Dying, HFA’s goal is to recognize their efforts and provide models that can be replicated to enhance care for dying and the bereaved.”
“It brings me so much joy to be in a position to hold space and hear people’s stories and their journey and to see people happy again,” Chesapeake Life Center grief counselor Jennifer Ward said in the video. “To see that joy brings me joy.”
To see the video, visit https://vimeo.com/1080179661/bd52bfdcb1?share=copy.
Licensed clinical professional counselor Marie Burgess shares how Chesapeake Life Center programming helped her and her family to find healing after the death of her son Harvey in a video produced by Hospice Foundation of America for its “Improving Dying” continuing education series.
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Chesapeake Life Center, a program service of Hospice of the Chesapeake, serves hospice family members and the community with bereavement services and activities aimed at enhancing the quality of life for those grieving the loss of a loved one. For details, visit www.chesapeakelifecenter.org.
Hospice Foundation of America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides programs and resources for professional development, public education, research funding, and information on hospice, palliative care, caregiving, and grief. For details, visit www.hospicefoundation.org.