Not only are our Morgantown Hospice families dealing with grief and loss but members of the community are also in the midst of life transitions and loss that bring on stress and “disenfranchised grief” – a term that refers to grief that is not addressed, or in some cases not even recognized, by society. Examples are job loss, house foreclosures and families left behind by members of the military. Those are some common reasons for disenfranchised grief with the current economic downturn and global unrest but there are many more such as divorce, house fires and loss of health. The garden has potential to provide a restorative setting for those members of the community as well as the people typically served by Morgantown Hospice. The garden will provide a therapeutic outdoor space where members of the community will:

v    Sit in quiet reflection and commune with nature;

v    Learn and participate in healing outdoor ceremonies and rituals as members of our adult grief support groups;

v    Offer outdoor annual holiday remembrance services that will facilitate healing and closure for grieving people in the community;

v    Meet in a therapeutic outdoor space for support group gatherings;

v    Release stress in this private, restorative oasis, which will also benefit Hospice workers who have stress associated with delivery of Hospice services;

v    Practice self-care in this outdoor healing environment, whether from hands on maintenance of the garden, or quiet reflective time;

v    Conduct meaningful private memorial services;

v    Meet privately for counseling sessions with clients and Hospice workers.