Grief Resources and Caregiver Information

The information provided on this page is intended to help support you and your family while coping with your grief. All grief is unique, and thus all information here may not apply to your specific situation. Therefore, we cannot guarantee, endorse, or recommend any of the resources listed here; they are for informational purposes only. Please contact us for more information. If you notice any resource listed with inaccurate information, please let us know.

• Hold My Hand - Caring for a Loved One
• Helping Educate After Loss -- One month after the death of a loved one
• Helping Educate After Loss -- Three months after the death of a loved one
• Helping Educate After Loss -- Five months after the death of a loved one
• Helping Educate After Loss -- Seven months after the death of a loved one
• Helping Educate After Loss -- Nine months after the death of a loved one
• Greater St. Louis Hospice Organization: St Louis Area Bereavement Support Groups and Resources
• A list of grief-related books provided by Missouri Hospice & Palliative Care Association

Caregiver Links

• AARP's Family Caregiving
• Aging in Place
• American Bar Association
• American Geriatrics Society's Health in Aging Foundation
• American Heart Association
• Alzheimer’s Association
• American Diabetes Association
• American Parkinson Disease Association
• Area Agency on Aging
• Association for Conflict Resolution
• Caregiver Action Network
• CareGiving.com
• Family Caregiver Alliance
• Health in Aging
• HelpGuide.org
• Medicines in My Home
• MedlinePlus
• National Alliance for Caregiving
• National Cancer Institute
• National Caregivers Library
• National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
• Today's Caregiver Magazine Online

Caregiver Tips

As a caregiver, you might find yourself facing new responsibilities, many of which are unfamiliar. There are things you can do to make the caregiving process easier for both you and your loved one. The tips, listed below, can help you get the support you need while caring for someone you love.

• Advance Directives and Legal Affairs
• Compassion Fatigue
• Managing Medicines at Home
• Massage Therapy
• Music Therapy
• Tips from a Physical Therapist and Occupational Therapist
• Tips from Registered Nurses
• Questions to Ask Before Taking New Medications
• Your Information Sheet

Class Schedules

"While inside patients' homes, we've learned that caregivers have questions, such as: 'How do I turn someone in bed?' or 'How do I administer medication?' These classes give them the opportunity to ask questions directly of our professionals."

Barbara Westland Director of BJC Hospice

Monthly classes for those caring for a loved one. 

• Classes are held monthly -- attend as many topics as you like
• There is no charge for classes, materials or literature
• Registration is not necessary
• Classes feature personal and professional insight from BJC employees who care 

Caregiver Class Topics

Medication Management and Nutrition

• A pharmacist will give tips for setting up, storing, recording, and managing medications. A registered dietitian will teach you how to help meet dietary requirements and manage physician-prescribed diets.

Supporting the Caregiver

• Learn about signs and risks of compassion fatigue (caregiver burnout) and ways to help. An experienced medical social worker will provide coping techniques and resources for caregivers.

Practical Tips for Day-to-Day Home Care

• Coping techniques and resources for caregivers. Learn about signs and risks of compassion fatigue (caregiver burnout), and ways to help. Introducing alternative therapies to help with stress relief and activity level.

Home Care Choices and How to Find Assistance at Home

• Learn about the difference between insurance-approved skilled home care and other home care choices, including private duty, home medical equipment, supplies, and other resources to help in the care of your loved one.

Legal Matters and Goals of Care

• An attorney will present information on important legal matters to address with your loved ones. A palliative social worker will share ways to discuss goals of care and long-term planning. Advance directives will be discussed.

Alternative Therapies

• There are many ways to cope with stress and different therapies will be discussed, such as music therapy, massage therapy, pet therapy, and more. This will be an experiential class, with enough time for personal questions and needs.

Instructors are specialists with BJC Home Care and BJC Hospice at Missouri Baptist Medical Center. Additional experts will also supplement class instruction, where indicated.

This is not a class for continuing education credits or patient care technician certifications. Thank you to: Patient and Family Advisory Councils of Progress West Hospital, Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital, and Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters for their input on the class content. Classes are sponsored by BJC Home Care, the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital, Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital and Progress West Hospital.