Caring for a loved one and coping with grief can be an overwhelming process, one that should not be endured alone. Hospice Ministries believes in offering ongoing support to the families of each patient that receives care in both inpatient and outpatient settings. One example of someone who was deeply touched by the Hospice bereavement care and support was Mr. James Sclater.
Mr. Sclater, a native of Mobile, AL, is a retired Professor of Music at Mississippi College. During his time attending the University of Southern Mississippi from 1962-1967, he met and married his beautiful wife of 50 years, Judy. After attending the University of TX from 1967-1970, he took his first professional job at Mississippi College, teaching academic music subjects. Over the next 40 years of serving on faculty, he and his wife made Clinton, MS their home. During this time, he had the opportunity to play the clarinet in the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra for 30 years!
In 2016, after a battle with Pancreatic Cancer, his wife Judy was placed in the care of Hospice Ministries within the outpatient setting for 6 months. During this time, Mr. Sclater recalls, “The Hospice Ministries team was very good to us. I couldn’t have asked for better help or service during those 6 months. We were given access to a nurse, chaplain, caregiver, and social worker that continually checked in with us. It was really wonderful.”
While Mrs. Sclater passed away on December 28, 2016, the care of Hospice Ministries did not end with her death. “The hospice staff made it a priority to let me know about their bereavement services,” said Sclater. “I didn’t go for the first few months but later decided to try out a grief group led by Joyce Burnett. It was really helpful to meet other people, hear other’s experiences and watch them come and get better. It was good to see the different stages that people were at in their journey.” Mr. Sclater was actively involved in his group for a year and a half, and attributes much of his healing process to the time he spent in the group.“The people that I dealt with from Hospice all seemed to be very helpful and very interested in helping not only my wife Judy, but also in helping me. The staff truly went beyond their call of duty.” Mr. Sclater currently attends Northside Baptist Church in Clinton, MS, and plays the clarinet in various jazz bands around the Jackson-metro area!
Hospice Ministries offers counseling and bereavement services through every stage of serious illness. Whether it be understanding treatment options, dealing with caregiver stress, or grieving the death of a loved one, counseling and support is offered to assist you with whatever you may need. Through one-on-one counseling, support groups, and special events, the Hospice Ministries bereavement services provide emotional support prior to or after a loss. Here are a few of the bereavement services currently being offered:
Bereavement Services
One-on-One Counseling
One-on-one counseling is a great resource to guide you through the different stages of grief. Hospice Ministries offers extensive counseling and support to meet your needs. Counseling is available on a time-limited basis with no charge to those whose loved one is cared for by Hospice Ministries.
Support Groups
Hospice Ministries offers Grief, Bereavement and Caregiver Support Groups, and workshops to help grieving family (including children and friends), as well as anyone in the community grieving a loss.
Special Events
Hospice Ministries provide a variety of special events throughout the year to help family members and friends celebrate and grieve their loved ones.
The McClean Fletcher Center
The McClean Fletcher Center, a free service of Hospice Ministries, Inc., is the only center of its kind in Mississippi. The Center provides grief support for children ages 4 to 18 who are anticipating or have suffered the loss of a loved one, a friend, or a caregiver. These services are available to everyone, not just families or loved ones served by Hospice Ministries. Learn more about the McClean Fletcher Center.
Programs & Services of the McClean Fletcher Center
Family-Centered Support Groups – Support groups for the entire family
School Support & Education – School based support groups
Anticipatory Grief Support – Support for a family anticipating a death
Community Resource – Resource material on grief
Grief Community Referral Service – Referrals for needs outside our mission
Community Education – Public education, crisis support, and networking to schools and the community
For more information about Hospice Ministries, and the various services they have to offer, visit their website today!