Bereavement Program

In addition to providing care for terminally ill individuals and their families prior to a death, Hospice of Dubuque also provides bereavement support to hospice families after a death has occurred. Services consist of:

• a personal contact, six to eight weeks after the death of the hospice patient, by a member of the bereavement staff, to review the death experience and explore agency or community services that may be helpful
• a series of supportive mailings, available for twelve months after the death of the hospice patient, that provide information on the grief process and contain suggestions on how to cope with the range of emotions often experienced after a loss
• periodic six-week grief groups, which use a combination of personal sharing, journal writing, reading assignments and the use of bereavement videos
• an annual memorial service celebrating the lives of Hospice of Dubuque patients who have died throughout the past year
• the annual Tree of Life Memorial Service, extended to the entire tri-state community. 

Though priority is given to Hospice of Dubuque families wishing to receive bereavement services, support is extended to other individuals in the community interested in bereavement support. These services are available at no cost, although donations are accepted and appreciated. For additional information on bereavement services, contact the Hospice of Dubuque Bereavement Coordinator at 563.582.1220.