Hinsdale – Two leaders of Adventist Hinsdale
Hospital’s pregnancy loss
support program last month presented research at a nationwide conference of
parents and health care professionals. Rosmarie Roose, RN, BSN, MSN, coordinator
of the Still Missed program, and Cathy Blanford, MEd, a volunteer bereavement counselor, presented
“Benefits of Intergenerational Programming in Perinatal Loss” at “Waves of
Memory, Horizons of Hope: Remembering Precious Lives,” the 16th
national Perinatal Bereavement Conference. Organized by the Pregnancy Loss and
Infant Death Alliance, the conference took place Oct.
16-19 in Clearwater, Fla. Approximately 400 people attended.
The poster presentation described how
the Still Missed program addresses the needs of an entire family after the
death of a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth or shortly after birth. Through
their research, Roose and Blanford concluded that inclusion of the entire
family in the bereavement process with special activities for children and
grandparents is beneficial to the healing process.
“While it’s important for families
to participate in intergenerational activities together, it’s also valuable for
children, parents and grandparents to have their own separate support
activities,” Roose said.
Roose and Blanford’s presentation
included a list of recommended books, projects and events for each age group. They
hope to publish their findings in a research journal.