What is grief?
According to the Mayo Clinic: “Grief is a strong, sometimes overwhelming emotion for people, regardless of whether their sadness stems from the loss of a loved one or from a terminal diagnosis they or someone they love have received. They might find themselves feeling numb and removed from daily life, unable to carry on with regular duties while saddled with their sense of loss. Grief is the natural reaction to loss. Grief is both a universal and a personal experience. Individual experiences of grief vary and are influenced by the nature of the loss. Some examples of loss include the death of a loved one, the ending of an important relationship, job loss, loss through theft or the loss of independence through disability.” (https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/support-groups/what-is-grief)
Grief is something that we have all felt or will feel in our lifetime. The good thing to know is that you aren’t alone and that there is support out there for you. At PCCOA, we have a grief support group offered on the first Tuesday of each month at 10am. It is lead by Kelly McCarty, Holistic Health Practitioner and sponsored by Bales Funeral Home & Preble Memory Gardens Funeral Center. Kelly is a lifelong resident of Preble County with 24 years of experience working with seniors in this area. She expanded her interests and education to include a more holistic approach to better health. She also offers other services such as reflexology. Kelly is offering support to help you through your grief and not feel “stuck” in your feelings. She is an amazing person, who has had her own share of loss, but didn’t let that keep her from helping others. We appreciate Kelly taking the time to offer this support group.
There are other benefits of joining this support group. These benefits include but are not limited to you building connections and finding a sense of community, realizing that you are not alone, that you can positively impact your mental health, find hope, and foster personal resilience, see the reality of the grieving process, discover a safe space to express yourself, and learn from the wisdom of others.
Grief support groups can provide a much-needed bridge over the difficult days, weeks, and months during and after a loss. Participants discover that the group is a place where understanding, encouragement and practical suggestions are readily found. Designed to meet a variety of needs, our group is open to anyone in the community who is coping with the loss of a loved one or any other type of loss and offered free of charge.
We encourage you to come to this support group if you need it. If you are on the fence, come check it out and see what it has to offer, it is an important resource. It’s a great opportunity to check out and have available to you. Remember, it’s the first Tuesday of every month at 10am. The next one is May 7.
The center has plenty of opportunities available to you on just about anything. If there is a topic that you would like to hear about, please let us know and we will try our best to make that happen. We’d love to see you come on down to the Senior Center for some fun, food, and socialization. It’s a wonderful place where you can connect with someone or get involved with something. Don’t forget that you can become a member for just $10 a year and you will stay up to date with all of our events and happenings. Membership is valid from Jan. 1, through Dec. 31. We are looking forward to seeing you visit us soon!
Preble County Council on Aging is located at 800 East St. Clair Street, Eaton. For more information, call 937-456-4947 or 1-800-238-5146 or email [email protected]. Preble County Transit can be reached at 937-456-9272.
