Community Nurses to offer Grief Programs

Community Nurses Home Health and Hospice holds annual bereavement camps for children each summer and at the holidays. Camp Flutterbye will be held Saturday, November 12 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at The Pines, on Windfall Road in St. Marys.

“The holiday season is often a sensitive and confusing time for children and teens who are grieving the death of a loved one,” said Joanne Straub, the hospice social worker who facilitates the camp. “We hope to help the kids understand their feelings and to find effective ways to cope with them.”

The camp offers various activities throughout the day, some designed for therapy and some designed for fun. A pizza party will be held, and there will be indoor swimming. There is no fee, and anyone of school age (kindergarten through grade 12) is invited to attend. An application must be completed and is available online at www.communitynurses.org or by calling 781-4722.

The Community Nurses will also hold a free Holiday Grief Workshop for adults on Thursday November 3. This is part of the regular bereavement support group, and the program is entitled, “Preparing for the Holidays.” A light dinner will be served, and hospice volunteers will be on hand to provide complementary therapies such as massage, hand massage and reiki. The group will meet at 6 p.m. at the CNI office in St. Marys on the Penn Highlands Elk campus.

Community Nurses is an affiliate of Penn Highlands Healthcare and is a home care agency providing Home Health, Hospice, Private Duty/Home Support Services, and Adult Day Care to local residents.