What Happens After Hospice? Grief Resources & Support Groups for Families

What We’re Talking About: When hospice care ends, families don’t have to face grief alone. Ongoing resources like counseling, support groups, and self-care practices can provide comfort and guidance, helping the weight of loss become easier to carry while honoring the memory of a loved one.

Hospice care ends when a loved one passes, but the journey of healing for family, friends, and loved ones continues. All too often, a mix of emotions can wash over you at once: grief, confusion, emptiness, or even a sense of relief followed by guilt. 

These feelings are normal, and they may evolve over time. Moving through grief is not always a linear path, and knowing how to take the next step forward can offer much-needed healing after surviving the passing of someone you loved and cared deeply for. 

No matter where you are at in navigating grief, you’re not alone. Support is available for you. Today, we will guide you toward resources and communities that can help bring comfort in these times. 

What Does Life After Hospice Look Like? 

At a glance, it can seem like a cold flipping of the switch. A loved one passes, the light and energy that radiated from their living body quickly dissipates, and an emptiness can take over the room. You may begin exploring thoughts like: 

• “What did they feel when they passed?” 
• “Did I get to say everything I wanted to say to them?” 
• “What am I going to do about their house and belongings?” 
• “I need to arrange their wake and funeral. Who do I call?” 

Countless other thoughts can come to mind. None of them are wrong or invalid. What happens in that moment, though, is often a feeling that you’re lacking direction on what to do next. 

Hospice care professionals understand how overwhelming and isolating these experiences can often feel. That is why continued support for families of departed loved ones can continue to receive support from their hospice program after a passing. These services can include grief counseling and continued outreach. 

Whatever support you choose to receive, remember that you can grieve at your own pace. Take the time to care for yourself in these moments, giving yourself space to find comfort in the chaos and process your feelings in a supportive environment. 

Grief Resources You Can Turn To 

Beyond services like grief counseling that you can access through your hospice program, there are a number of other valuable resources that you can turn to. These can include: 

• Hospice bereavement services: Many programs offer phone check-ins, grief literature, or counseling sessions even after services conclude.
• Individual counseling: Licensed grief counselors or therapists can help process emotions in a safe space.
• Faith-based support: Churches, synagogues, mosques, and spiritual communities often provide grief ministries and pastoral counseling.
• Educational resources: Books, guided journals, and online grief workshops to help make sense of feelings.
• Hotlines and help lines: For immediate emotional support in moments of overwhelm. National services like the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) offer general help by calling 1-800-662-HELP (4357) and can also provide support in times of crisis through services like their suicide hotline (988). 

If you or a member of your family is experiencing extreme distress after the passing of a loved one where they may be a danger to themselves or others, please call 911 or take them to your nearest emergency room for immediate care. 

The Role of Support Groups

Losing someone you love can be difficult to explain to someone who has not experienced it in their own life. It may feel like others just don’t “get it.” This can sometimes lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness while you are coping with grief. 

Connecting with others who have experienced similar loss can ease these feelings of isolation. Support groups can connect you with others who are struggling with their own grief or have successfully navigated it in their own lives and want to help others. 

It’s important to note that there is not just one type of support group. Finding one that fits your needs and lifestyle can help maintain consistency and enable you to attend more regularly. Some common types include:

• In-person groups at community centers, hospitals, or faith organizations where interactions happen face-to-face in a supportive setting.
  
• Specialized groups for specific types of loss, such as parents who’ve lost children, spousal loss, or caregiver grief.
  
• Online communities for those who need flexibility or privacy. These can be especially helpful for those who work fluctuating hours throughout the week and want to engage on their own time.
  

Through engaging with others that have experienced something similar to what you’re feeling, you can feel like you are truly not alone in your journey. It can help lighten that burden. 

It’s also okay if it takes time to be ready for group settings. You may want to navigate your own grief through counseling first with the goal of joining a support group later. 

Taking Care of Yourself Through Grief

We have covered many external options to navigate grief and reduce feelings of loneliness, isolation, and distress in the process. Now, let’s shift to a critical part of your healing journey: you. 

Healing is not just about accessing external resources. It’s also about self-care. 

Neglecting your own wellbeing can take a toll on your physical, mental, and emotional health. By practicing self-care, you can help support your body and mind while you’re navigating grief. 

Self-care looks different for everyone. Here are some ways that you can practice it on your own time: 

• Maintain basic routines (sleep, hydration, meals).
  
• Allow moments of rest without guilt.
  
• Engage in calming activities: walks, journaling, prayer, or quiet reflection.
  
• Accept help from friends and family; it’s not a burden to lean on others.

Keep these consistent throughout your healing journey. The process will be gradual, and it shouldn’t be rushed. These moments where you can engage in activities that help you feel better will also support the work you are doing in other places like counseling and support groups. 

Don’t Face Life After Hospice Alone

Everything mentioned above ties back to one central message: After a loved one passes, you do not have to navigate your grief alone, and you shouldn’t. Taking advantage of resources through your hospice program, leaning on your family and community, seeking support from others, and giving yourself time to prioritize self-care can provide invaluable benefits to your healing journey. 

If you are located in California and are seeking hospice for your loved one, reach out to our team at Compassionate Care. As part of our commitment to honoring your loved one’s legacy with comfort, care, and dignity, we also provide comprehensive after-hospice support to their families. 

To learn more about how we can support your family after hospice, contact us today.