Journey Connections

Our Compass Program is now Coastal Care Navigators

By Alvin Harmon

Coastal Hospice understands that some do not meet the hospice admission criteria, but is still compassionate toward the struggle that many face when dealing with a serious illness. It can be tough to discover that the ability to complete simple tasks, like taking a few steps, standing from a seated position or preparing a modest lunch, are becoming increasingly difficult to complete. Even more so, when you have to do it alone.

The stories of these struggles are not new to us, so not only do we know what is available to support, we know how to navigate the processes. Nevertheless, we treat your story, your struggle, with the value and attention that it deserves. We want to take the time to hear your struggle from you. In the past, we have connected families to resources that offer medical equipment, adult day care, meal deliveries, transportation, and help with supplies to name a few.

Looking into the future, we are introducing the role of the Advanced Illness Doula! At the core, the care provided by the Advanced Illness Doula, is offering non-medical and non-judgmental support and guidance, to individuals and families through times of critical and transformative life change. Our doulas will provide an expert presence to nurture, inform, support, guide, empower, comfort, and work with other caregivers and members of the care team.

We saw an opportunity to take what Coastal Hospice currently offers as support for families in this struggle and enhance it! Our Compass program is now COASTAL CARE NAVIGATORS!

Our Advance Illness Doulas will provide an expert presence to nurture, inform, support, guide, empower, comfort, and work with other caregivers and members of the care team.

When you enroll into the Coastal Care Navigators Program, you will be assigned a Care Navigator who understands the challenges that complications from your illness might bring and is connected to the resources that can help ease some of that stress for you and your family. A Care Navigator will make calls and visits to your home, not only to offer resource support, but companionship as well.

Alvin

For more information about Coastal Care Navigators, please contact Alvin Harmon, Director of Bereavement Services, Volunteer Services, and Coastal Care Navigators at aharmon@coastalhospice.org or by phone: 855-346-5905

Grief Support Groups

We offer in-person and online 6-Week Bereavement Support Groups throughout the year. The purpose of these support groups is to provide an atmosphere of trust and acceptance in which participants may freely share their experiences, struggles, feelings, and concerns as well as their strengths, solutions, and joys. The groups will encourage participants to create friendships and network with each other.

These activities are offered at no cost to any adult who has experienced the death of a loved one, even if they were not a patient of Coastal Hospice. One-on-one phone support or in-person meeting available by request.

6-Week Grief Support Groups

We request that you wait a minimum of 3 months after the death of a loved one to attend and commitment to attend all meetings is highly encouraged.

Loss of Spouse/Partner Grief

Support Group — Worcester County

MONDAYS | April 17 – May 22

4:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M.

Macky & Pam Stansell House

1500 Ocean Parkway, Ocean Pines 21811

Edward H. Hammond, Jr. Community Room (Ground Level)

Loss of Spouse/Partner Grief

Support Group — Wicomico County

MONDAYS | April 17 – May 22

10:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M.

Coastal Hospice Main Office (Conference Room)

2604 Old Ocean City Road, Salisbury

Loss of a Parent –

Online Support Group (Zoom)

THURSDAYS | May 4 – June 8

7:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M.

Loss of Spouse/Partner Grief

Support Group — Worcester County

MONDAYS | July 24 – August 28

4:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M.

Macky & Pam Stansell House

1500 Ocean Parkway, Ocean Pines 21811

Edward H. Hammond, Jr. Community Room (Ground Level)

Loss of Spouse/Partner Grief

Support Group — Wicomico County

MONDAYS | July 24 – August 28

10:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M.

Coastal Hospice Main office (Conference Room)

2604 Old Ocean City Road, Salisbury

Ongoing Support Groups

These groups are ongoing throughout the year and we welcome newcomers.

Social Gathering for the Bereaved — Worcester County

ONGOING every THIRD

Monday of each month for 2023

Ocean Pines Public House & Eatery 11002 Nicholas Ln, Berlin, MD 21811

12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Cooking for ONE —

All Four Lower Shore Communities Welcome ONGOING every Fourth

Thursday of each month for 2023 (We will not meet in November or December)

Macky & Pam Stansell House (1st Floor Kitchenette)

1500 Ocean Parkway, Ocean Pines, MD 21811

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Memorial Gatherings

Dorchester County

Memorial Gathering

Tuesday, June 6

2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Dorchester County Visitor Center

2 Rosehill Pl, Cambridge, MD 21613

Somerset County

Memorial Gathering

Tuesday, August 8

2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

J Millard Tawes Historical Museum

3 9th St, Crisfield, MD 21817

Wicomico County

Memorial Gathering

Tuesday, September 19

2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Oak Ridge Church

361 Tilghman Rd, Salisbury, MD 21804

Worcester County

Memorial Gathering

Tuesday, November 3

2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Ocean City Fishing Pier

401 S Atlantic Ave, Ocean City, MD 21842

All four counties are welcome to our Memorial Gatherings. Visit our website: www.coastalhospice.org/events/

Grief Support Groups Tailored to Our Community

By Cristina Puig-Lugo

Atsome point in our lives, all of us experience grief. Our experience with grief is unique to each individual. Some aspects that might impact our grief response are bereaved’s personality, expectations, worldview, or belief system just to mention a few. However, one important aspect of our grief response is the unique relationship we had with the deceased loved one.

At Coastal Hospice, we realize the importance of tailoring the support groups to the kind of loss the person is experiencing. For example, if someone loses a spouse, it is very different than losing an adult child. Often, we hear comments like, “it’s not the same losing my husband than losing my son” and/or “it’s just not the way it is supposed to be, I was supposed to go first.” In both statements, we see that the relationship with each loved one was different. Likewise, our expectations about death differ in that the natural way in which life is supposed to go is that the older people die first. With that in mind, we realized that there was a great need for people to connect with others who had experienced similar losses. In bringing people together, the hope is that they can support one another in their grief journey.

Probably, you have heard the phrase “you don’t know what it’s like until you walk in someone else’s shoes.” I find that statement very true, especially in grief and loss. In connecting with others who have gone through similar experiences, people realize that they are not alone, that there are other people on the journey of grief who are willing to walk beside each other on that path. In doing so, the hope is that connecting with each other will assist in the healing process.

In our grief response, another aspect to consider is the type of death, like if the death was expected, unexpected, or death by suicide. If the death was expected, people might have already experienced what is known as “anticipatory grief,” which means that people possibly started grieving prior to physical death. If death was unexpected, there might be an element of shock. If our loved one committed suicide, there is another layer added to our grief. In loss by suicide, grief may be intense and complicated due to feelings of guilt, shame, and blame.

When we talk about grief, we immediately think about the death of a person. However, keep in mind that there are other types of losses, like: a job, move to a new place, divorce, pet, physical health, independence, faith, and financial security just to mention a few. Someone who is grieving the death of a loved one may be experiencing other losses as well, which further complicates the grieving process.

All losses are unique. Our response to grief and loss is dependent on the circumstances around the death and our personal response to it. In distinguishing each support group, our hope is to attend to the specific needs of the community, offering hope, support, and assisting in the healing process.

If you want to learn more about our grief support groups, see page 8 for more information or visit our website: www.coastalhospice.org/events

Cristina

For more information, please contact Cristina Puig-Lugo, Bereavement Counselor at CPuig-Lugo@coastalhospice.org or by phone: 410-742-8732 ext. 334

Youth & Grief

By Alvin Harmon

Coastal Hospice has been a vital part of supporting grief and community crisis for many students within our region. We have offered support groups specifically designed to help children and adolescents cope with their grief. These groups are an effective way for school-age children to process their grief together. Children don't want to be different from their peers and in a group setting they discover they are not alone.

These past months we had the opportunity of offering support at the Dorchester Career Technology Center, Stephen Decatur High School, and at Maces Lane Middle School in Dorchester County. For more information or to learn how to bring support to your school, please call our Bereavement Department. Our programs are offered at no cost, thanks to the support of our community.

For more information, please contact Alvin Harmon, Director of Bereavement Services, Volunteer Services, and Coastal Care Navigators at aharmon@coastalhospice.org or by phone: 410-742-8732 ext. 440

Worcester County Memorial Gathering

It was an honor for Coastal Hospice to support so many families during our Worcester County Memorial Gathering in November 2022. An invitation was sent throughout the county for those who experienced the loss of a loved one to participate in this free event. There could not have been a more beautiful opportunity to honor the memory of a loved one, than that of the Atlantic Ocean waves crashing under the famed Ocean City Fishing Pier.

Adapting and mending is part of life and so is the support we offer to our community. This year we are making big changes to a program that benefits the youth and we have offered in collaboration with Salisbury University for many years: Camp Safe Harbor. We are thrilled to announce the evolution of the camp and to introduce: CAMP CHAMELEON!

Camp Chameleon is a 4-day summer day camp open to children ages 6 to 12, who have experienced a primary loss in their life, like the death of a parent, grandparent, sibling or other closely connected person. Camp Chameleon is hosted through a partnership between Coastal Hospice and The Personal Wellness Center, in Salisbury, MD.

The camp offers a safe place for these children to express their grief, to explore the many emotions that accompany the death of someone close, and to learn age-appropriate coping skills that will assist them on their grief journey. This year we are encouraging families to participate during the last portion of the camp day. More information upon registration.

Camp Chameleon begins with a family event on Monday evening, June 26, 2022 and is followed by three days (June 27-29) filled with fun and activities for the campers. Lunch provided daily! Each child will receive a t-shirt, water bottle, drawstring tote bag, and supplies for all activities.

Camp Chameleon

Dates: June 26 - June 29

Location: The Personal Wellness Center 6508 Deer Pointe Drive #4C, Salisbury, MD 21804

Activities Include:

Schedule: Opening Night Family Party: Monday, June 26, 6:00 p.m.

Camp Days: Tuesday, June 27 – Thursday, June 29, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Family Closing Ceremony – A Time to Remember: Thursday, June 29, 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

In partnership with:

For more information about Camp Chameleon or to reserve a spot for your child, please contact Alvin Harmon, Director of Bereavement Services, Volunteer Services, and Coastal Care Navigators at aharmon@coastalhospice.org or by phone: 410-742-8732 ext. 619