The Spiritual Care Department hosts multiple support groups for patients and caregivers at various stages throughout the cancer journey.
In addition to the monthly support groups below, we will be hosting three special programs to offer community, healing and thoughtful classes and presentations to inspire healing.
Young, Grieving Spouse Support Group
This support group is for young, grieving individuals between the ages of 20-55 years old who have recently suffered the loss of a spouse.
Healing a Grieving Heart - Bereavement Support Group
This program is for adults who have experienced the loss of a spouse, parent,or other loved one.
Caregiver Support Group
We invite you to our safe space where caregivers will connect, unload their struggles and find support in a relaxed setting.
Thursday, March 27, 2025
8 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
Join us at our bi-annual Patients and Caregivers Retreat, hosted at the Aloft Hotel Buffalo at 500 Pearl St. Join us for a full day of wellness sessions and presentations led by Roswell Park experts:
- Acupuncture with Collen LoFaro-O'Neill
- Healing Touch with Dr. Sue Hess, PhD, CHTP
- Meditation with Joe DiNardo
- Sound Therapy with Jill Lucidi of Safe and Sound
- Storytelling with our Life Recorded coordinators
- Yoga Stretch with Julia Kress
- Spiritual Healing with Bryan McMullen of Sisters Hospital
- A special presentation by Dr. Desi Carozza, Roswell Park Medical Director for Geriatrics and Bioethics
Registration for this event is now closed.
For more information, please contact our Spiritual Care team at 716-845-8051.
Bereavement Support Program
The Spiritual Care Department of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center act as coordinators of the End of Life/Bereavement Support Program. It is initiated at the time of a terminal diagnosis. With the permission of the patient or family, the Spiritual Care staff member initiates an assessment of need, including evaluation of the patient’s and family’s awareness of the prognosis, the patient’s and family’s coping resources and readiness to accept the prognosis, and the current level of patient and family support.
Once the assessment has taken place, the multidisciplinary team reviews the data and initiates an intervention tailored to the specific needs of the patient and family. The specific elements of the intervention are selected from a “menu” of program components, thus allowing the intervention to be crafted in response to the unique constellation of needs in the presenting situation of that specific patient and family. The available program elements include the coordination of related services as appropriate to provide holistic care (e.g. Social Work, Psychology, Patient Advocate,), emotional and spiritual support, values clarification interventions in order to facilitate decision-making, provision of measures to promote patient and family comfort, and the maintenance of a supportive care environment (e.g. mementos from home; accommodation of patient’s/family wishes regarding family/friend visitation.), and a quartely Bereavement Education Support Group.
The support offered through the End of Life/Bereavement Support Team continues after the death of the patient for the following year. Once again, the time and type of support will be determined by the needs of the family. The staff will continue to make contact with the family 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after the patient’s death. A needs assessment is conducted at each contact and the care coordinator will link the family to appropriate additional counseling if needed. The family will also be invited to the Institute’s Patient Remembrance Service, as well as the yearly educational evenings on grief sponsored by the Institute.
Journey Through Grief: A Resource Booklet for Families
Someone you love very much has died. Pain and fear sweep over you like waves in the ocean. You feel that you cannot bear it one more day and ask yourself, “How will I survive?” Your life has changed and a part of you is gone. It is true that you will remember and grieve a little all the rest of your life. The Department of Spiritual Care has compiled this booklet on grief to help you begin the journey and to discover the resources that are available to you. It is our hope that this booklet will bring you some peace and comfort during these difficult days.