Many hospices extend their grief care beyond patient populations and step up support into the community at large with bereavement camps for children and families experiencing the loss of a loved one. Hospices are required by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to offer bereavement care to patients’ families for 13 months after their loved one expires.
“A number of our children are there because of a sudden traumatic loss, car accident, drug overdose, homicide or suicide,” King said. “There’s a lot of other children that we’re able to touch that aren’t necessarily touched through the care of LifePath Hospice, and a number of those referrals come from the [local] school system. Their grief is even greater now because of their social structures, their home life, their school connections, all of that is in such a state of upheaval everywhere in the country. These kids are having probably stronger grief reactions, so it’s even more critical that we have this contact with them, which evolved into this idea of bringing the camp to them.”
The online Camp at Home activities encourage family engagement and interaction. Campers receive packages each month that include instructions and supplies for healing crafts, gifts for each family and personalized notes from donors who supported the program.
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