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 16^th 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.