BEMIDJI-The Hospice Foundation of America and Sanford Health are partnering this week to open a dialogue about supporting those dealing with loss.
On Tuesday, April 30, Sanford Bemidji Medical Center will be one of many host sites broadcasting an HFA program titled "Aging America: Coping with Loss, Dying and Death Later in Life." This is the 26th annual program by the HFA and its been shown in Bemidji nearly just as long.
"We've been doing this ever since I've been with Hospice, and that's 23 years," said Tracy Johanns, a licensed social worker for Hospice through Sanford Health. "We've been having this for a long time in the community. It's an important thing for people to learn more about the how-to-help in the grief process."
According to the HFA, this education for care providers is becoming more important, as an estimated 10,000 people in the United States turn 65 daily. The program has been designed to help mental health professionals, health care providers and the community as a whole better support aging Americans.
"I see a lot of elders in my profession who are grieving a loss and are facing depression, loneliness and isolation," Johanns said. "In some cases, it's just by nature of not getting out, as many are homebound. So we need to work to help them get support. With these, we can learn from each other, and find resources throughout the community to help those who are grieving."
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Tuesday's presentation will take place from 1 to 3:45 p.m. in the Educational Conference Center at Sanford Bemidji Medical Center, 1300 Anne St. NW. Those attending are encouraged to enter at the main entrance on the east side of the hospital.
Todd Cortese, director of Hospice Home Care in Bemidji, said the event will start with the video presentation, followed by a 30-minute discussion on the topics featured.
For more information about attending, those interested can contact the program's organizer Andrea Lewis at andrea.lewis@sanfordhealth.org or call (218) 333-5702.
Cortese noted a grief support group has been established locally, with meetings from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on the first and third Thursday of each month. The meetings take place at Sanford Health Neilson Place, 1000 Anne St. NW.
