Solari Hospice Offers Free Bereavement Support Services
Solari Hospice Care knows that the pain of losing a loved one can bring an onslaught of conflicting emotions ranging the spectrum from guilt to despair. This is a time filled with numerous ups and downs and a flood of questions about what a future without that special person will hold. Each week, Houston Solari Hospice Care offers a free, ongoing grief support group designed to provide healthy ways to heal. The group meets from 11 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays at the Houston Solari Hospice Care Inpatient Home, located at 9714 S. Gessner Road. All members of the community are welcome.
“Grief can feel lonely and scary even when you have friends and relatives who care,” said Jim Mayer, chaplain at Houston Solari Hospice Care. “At Houston Solari Hospice Care, we are dedicated not just to helping patients at the end of their lives, but also to helping survivors who are left to cope with loss. While grieving is a highly individual experience, connecting with others who have similar sorrows can make the burden a little easier to bear.
“It doesn’t matter whether the death was a few weeks or many months ago. No matter where someone is in the grieving process, everyone can learn from each other. It’s reassuring to hear stories from other people who are often struggling with the same issues and concerns. We also provide numerous tips and strategies designed to help people accept and understand the grieving process, and to live happier, more productive lives while still honoring the memories of their loved ones.”
For children ages 6 to 17 who have lost a parent, sibling or other close relative, the nonprofit Solari Hospice Foundation offers a weekend-long bereavement camp called Camp Solari. All weekend activities — including lodging, meals and professional counseling services — are provided free to participants thanks to community fundraising efforts and the generous gifts of corporate and private donors.
“Camp Solari provides a warm, welcoming environment where experienced grief counselors guide children and their families through art, music, equine therapy and other fun and educational activities,” said Jamie Muth, executive director of Solari Hospice Foundation. “The transformation that takes place from when kids first arrive at camp to when they leave is truly inspiring. Children sort through their feelings, bond with others and begin the process of healing.”
Houston's inaugural Camp Solari was held in March 2012 at the Blisswood Bed & Breakfast at Lehmann Legacy Ranch in Cat Spring. Plans are already underway for the next camp in a similarly relaxed setting. Applications are accepted year-round.
For more information about the grief support group, call Mayer at 713-664-7120 or visit solarihospice.com. For more information about Camp Solari, contact Muth at 877-795-8760 or visit solarihospicefoundation.org.
About Solari Hospice
Houston Solari Hospice Care is devoted to helping people live with dignity and comfort by providing trusted and professional hospice care in the Houston community. Focused on enhancing the quality of life for patients and their loved ones, Solari’s exemplary team of staff is specially trained to offer the most compassionate and comforting care designed for each patient’s unique needs.
