Grief visits each one of us at some time in our lives, and we know that it is less painful and easier to heal when the grief process is shared. While we cannot take away the pain of losing a loved one, we can help you to understand the grief process and realize that you are not alone. Grief doesn’t have a rule book or a timeline. It lasts as long as it takes each person to adjust to the changes in life following a loss. It may last for months, or even years. It’s important to understand that there is no right or wrong way to grieve and each person’s grief journey after the death of a loved one is different. Thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and other feelings may come and go throughout the grieving process. Life won’t be the same after a loss, but embracing your grief will allow you to adjust over time. Hospice of Murray County Bereavement Care Hospice of Murray County uses a team approach to treat our patients and their families. When one of our patients dies, the hospice team maintains contact with the family for up to one year after the death of their loved one. We host Community Grief Support Groups twice a year (in the spring and fall) for adults who have lost a loved one. This group provides a safe place to learn about grief and share your thoughts and feelings with others who truly understand them. These groups are free of charge to any person who would like to attend, whether you have a family member who has received our services or not. If a group setting isn’t for you, our hospice staff is also available for individual visits or phone calls. We also provide bereavement mailings to our patients’ family members about a variety of grief and loss topics. Many who have received these mailings have commented on how they look forward to receiving them each month, and that the topics are of interest to them in their grief process. We also have a library of books, videos, and DVDs relating to grief and loss available for patients and their families to use. We host an annual Tree of Lights program each Holiday season, and we also hold an annual Remembrance Program each February to celebrate the lives of our patients who ended their earthly journey during the previous year.