Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Grief support group to begin in April

Riverwood Healthcare Center has organized a 6-week Grief support group, which will be held on Thursday evenings, April 23 through May 26. The group will meet from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Riverwood’s hospital conference rooms A & B at 200 Bunker Hill Drive in Aitkin.

Three local women with experience in bereavement counseling and support —Judy Anakkala, Mary Ann Kult and Betty Thompson—will act as group facilitators, presenting the weekly topics and guiding discussion. Each week, the facilitators will cover specific topics on healthy grieving and how to cope.

Ann Gunn, who lost both her husband and son within the past five years, participated in the Grief support group at Riverwood last year with a friend.

“The loss of a loved one comes to all of us,” Gunn says. “This bereavement group helped me feel that I was not alone. We were able to support each other and share ways to cope as well as some of the good memories. We all gained something from it.”

Pre-registration for the support group is required. To register, contact Val Thompson, Riverwood social worker, at (218) 927-5524. Assistance may be available for transportation; inquire if needed.

Funding for the Grief support group is being provided in part by the Miller-Dwan Foundation in Duluth.