BridgingLife Education and Support Groups

BridgingLife Education and Support Groups

Grief Resources

BridgingLife knows the tremendous impact the loss of a loved one or friend can have. To support hospice families and the community at large, BridgingLife has a number of free grief resources available to help through the grieving process.

The McGinnis Bereavement Resource Center at Dove House in Westminster, Maryland, features more than 500 books, videos and DVDs that can be borrowed for up to a month’s time. From adult grief to caregiving to pet loss and more, the materials cover a wide range of topics. The resource center is open to the public, so that hospice families and community members can utilize the library and check out materials.

BridgingLife offers up to 13 months of grief counseling for hospice patients’ families. These counseling sessions help families realize that the feelings they are experiencing are normal and allow them to work through and understand those feelings. BridgingLife also offers short-term grief counseling for community members and can provide referrals to other counseling services in the community.

In addition, BridgingLife hosts a variety of grief support groups which are designed to be a safe environment where thoughts and feelings of those experiencing loss can be shared with others. All support groups are free and open to the public, and some require registration.

Learn more about our support groups:

For Adults

Healing After a Substance Loss Support Group
Open to those who have experienced the death of a loved one related to substance use or addictions. The group addresses the unique emotional issues surrounding the loss and offers coping strategies. This group meets the first Tuesday of each month, 5 – 6:30 p.m. Call 443-875-8763 for more information.

Mending Hearts Support Group
A support group for parents who have lost a child of any age. Receive support and advice on managing the complex emotions involved with the death of a child. During sessions, attendees can share their experiences, participate in discussions and receive comfort in a warm and welcoming environment. This group meets the third Monday of each month, 6:30 – 8 p.m. Call 410-871-7656 for more information.

Pathways Support Group
Open to anyone who is grieving the loss of a loved one. The group addresses emotional issues surrounding the loss and offers coping strategies. Meets the third Wednesday of each month, 7 – 8 p.m. Call 410-871-7656 for more information.

Widows and Widowers Support Group
This support group helps women and men address the emotional issues surrounding the loss of their spouse. Held the first Tuesday of each month, 6:30 – 8 p.m. Call 410-960-7568 for more information

For Children Ages 7 to 15

To help children with their grief, BridgingLife offers Camp T.R. as well as short-term grief counseling. Our bereavement counselors also can provide referrals to other counseling services in the community.

What is Camp T.R.?
Hosted each year by BridgingLife, Camp T.R. is a free, overnight weekend retreat for children ages 7 - 15 who are grieving the loss of a loved one. The camp combines recreational activities, such as art, swimming and music with grief education and support.

How can Camp T.R. help a grieving child?
The camp offers a safe, supportive environment to help children understand and cope with their grief. After the death of a loved one, children may experience feelings of anger, loneliness, and guilt. Some may even experience physical symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches and fatigue. The camp is designed to help children deal with these emotions. Our goal is to let campers know that they are not alone and help them feel comfortable sharing their feelings.

What types of activities are offered?
Campers will learn positive ways to express their emotions through creative exercises, honest discussions and recreational activities. In addition to grief education and support, daily activities may include:

• Arts and Crafts

• Dance

• Drama

• Swimming

• Hiking

• Games

Who are the staff members?
Camp T.R. is staffed by professional bereavement counselors and volunteers with special training in helping grieving children. Each camper is also assigned a "buddy" (usually a volunteer) for added support.

What is the cost?
Camp T.R. is FREE for all participants. All meals are included.

Where do campers stay?
Campers stay in one of five secure, comfortable cabins on the grounds of the Hashawha Environmental Center in Westminster, Maryland. Situated on Lake Hashawha, the center gives campers a much-needed change of scenery, along with a broad range of outdoor recreational opportunities.

For more information, please call 410-871-8000

Bereavement Skills Training

BridgingLife offers a series of educational classes for those interested in training in bereavement and grief issues and is suitable for those interested in becoming grief companions for BridgingLife or professionals. This includes teachers, counselors, nurses and pastors seeking additional training and skills. Registration is required.

For more information on bereavement skills training, please call us at 410-871-8000

Healing After Loss

The healthiest way to heal from your own grief is to deal with the pain so that you can continue to have a rich and fulfilled life. Grief literature is a helpful tool for many bereaved families. Understanding that you are not alone in your grief by relating to others who have experienced similar grief reactions can help ease the sting.

At BridgingLife, we often recommend books and handouts by author and grief expert, Alan Wolfelt, Ph.D. His books and articles can be found at the McGinnis Bereavement Resource Center located in Dove House.

These books by Dr. Wolfelt have been helpful for bereaved families:

• The Paradoxes of Mourning: Healing Your Grief with Three Forgotten Truths A reminder that it is important to welcome our natural grief

• The Mourner’s Book of Courage: 30 Days of Encouragement Follows a 30-day format of encouraging words and activities

• Healing Your Grieving Heart: 100 Practical Ideas Features compassionate advice and simple activities to help you through your loss

• The Understanding Your Grief Journal: Exploring the Ten Essential Touchstones A companion workbook to the book Understanding Your Grief designed to help explore the many facets of grief through journaling

• Loving from the Outside In, Mourning from the Inside Out explores what love and grief have in common and invites the reader to mourn well in order to go on to live and love well again

Helpful grief articles by Dr. Wolfelt include:

• The Capacity to Love the Reason We Grieve

• The Spiritual Path to Healing: Mourning Ideas

• Helping Yourself Heal When Your Spouse Dies

• Helping Yourself Heal When Your Parent Dies

• Helping Yourself Heal When Your Child Dies

Dr. Wolfelt’s website also offers helpful resources for those who are grieving. Please take time to view this website and read some of his grief literature.

Spiritual Resources

BridgingLife strives to ensure your spiritual needs are met during this difficult time. In addition, our inpatient facility in Westminster, Dove House, provides a multi-faith chapel for patients and their families. Hospice chaplains are trained to work with patients, families and caregivers of all faith backgrounds and beliefs, they are also trained to work with individuals and families who do not identify with any belief system.

Hospice chaplains help patients, families and caregivers find ways to reduce stress, engage in self-care and add meaning to the final stage of life. For more information, please call 410-871-8000

Home Hospice Care

Serving patients in Carroll, Baltimore and Frederick counties, Baltimore City and portions of Pennsylvania

Hospice chaplains help patients, families and caregivers find ways to reduce stress, engage in self-care and add meaning to the final stage of life. For more information, please call 410-871-8000.

Inpatient Hospice Care

Hospice patients are brought to a BridgingLife inpatient unit for symptom and pain management that cannot be controlled at home or in another care setting. The inpatient unit allows 24/7 care and monitoring of the medication changes to ensure symptoms are being managed appropriately.

Stays in the inpatient unit are typically short term, and once symptoms have been managed, the patient can return to his or her own residence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can families stay with the patient?
Yes, the patient’s family is encouraged to stay with their loved one. Each patient room has sleeping accommodations for family members, and all of the units have a dining area and lounge. Patient rooms also include private bathrooms.

Will our doctor still be involved with our family member’s care?
Yes. Your physician can be as involved as much as they choose. If requested, we will keep your doctor informed of your family member’s status and any changes that may occur. Our hospice physicians and certified nurse practitioners will also make rounds daily on all patients.

Who pays for inpatient services?
Hospice coverage is widely available and covered by all insurance plans, including Medicare, Medicaid and the VA. BridgingLife is a nonprofit organization that provides hospice care services to all individuals in need, regardless of insurance coverage or financial situation. No one is refused or denied hospice care, and every patient receives the same level of high-quality service.

We Honor Veterans

BridgingLife, formerly Carroll Hospice, is proud to be a part of We Honor Veterans, a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. This partnership, between BridgingLife, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the community, promotes services, education and recognition for all veterans and their families.

Volunteers make the difference. Military veteran hospice patients are paired with a military veteran hospice volunteer to support them at the end of life. BridgingLife has achieved Level Five status in the program, the highest designation available, for its efforts in addressing the specialized needs of veteran hospice patients and honoring their service to the country.

How You Can Help
Support our mission of honoring out veterans at the end of their lives by making a donation to BridgingLife's We Honor Veterans program. Call 410-871-7220 for more information.

Patient Resources

Please contact our team at 410-871-8000 if you have any questions.

• Download our Funeral Planning Resource Guide for Families

• Request a speaker BridgingLife to talk about palliative care or hospice services at your next community event.

• View our Calendar of Events for upcoming support groups and other events.

Local, State & National Resources

The following is a list of local, state and national resources featuring helpful information for older adults and their families:

• The Carroll County Bureau of Aging and Disabilities plans, advocates and develops programs and services for older adults age 60 and older and coordinates services and referrals for adults with disabilities 18 years and older.

• The Maryland Department of Aging and Disabilities offers information about services and programs for older Marylanders and their families.

• Maryland Medical Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) provides information on planning for health care, including medical decision making and end-of-life decisions.

• Hospice Network of Maryland is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to promote quality end-of-life care and provides information on hospice care.

• The Maryland Attorney General’s site features information about Advance Directives, a legal document that dictates your health care wishes if you are unable to express those wishes, and Carroll Hospital's website features a link where you can download an Advance Directive.

• The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) is the largest nonprofit membership organization representing hospice and palliative care programs in the United States. NHPCOs goal is to profoundly enhance the quality of life for people dying in America and their loved ones by improving end-of-life-care and expanding access to hospice care.

• Caring Connections is a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO). This national consumer and community engagement initiative is designed to improve end-of-life care.