Grieving, Stroke Awareness Activities

Slated At Jewish Federation

SOUTHBURY — A free series for adults who have had a loved one die is being offered on Wednesdays, October 7, 14, 21, and 28, from 1 to 2:30 pm, at the Jewish Federation, 444 Main Street North. Sponsored by Brownstein Jewish Family Service and facilitated by Kendall Palladino of Regional Hospice, “Rebuilding Your Life After Loss” is a four-part workshop based upon the latest knowledge about what constitutes “healthy” grieving.

The emphasis will be educational with some supportive elements included. This is not primarily a “support group,” but rather a workshop to guide anyone who has had a personal loss toward more successfully rebuilding of their lives.

Understanding how loss impacts people as whole people and how to approach these impacts of grief personally will be explored on October 7. The October 14 program examines feeling supported through the difficult impacts that loss has upon individuals with an attention to the uniqueness of personalities and needs.

Rebuilding meaning and purpose after lives have changed by loss will be the topic on October 21. The final session, on October 28, explores what it means to fare well after loss, even when knowing that lives will not return to how they used to be.

Kendall Palladino is the director of spiritual and bereavement services for Regional Hospice. Since 1996, Mr Palladino has worked in bereavement care in various settings; since January 2001, he has worked in his current position.

He directs the Healing Hearts Center for Grieving Children and Families, which serves nearly 1,000 bereaved children, parents, and adults each year and was recently recognized nationally by Premier Cares and Met Life for its positive outcomes in care for grieving people and its innovative approaches to supporting caregivers.

Mr Palladino is currently working on his dissertation for his doctorate in spiritual and bereavement care at Princeton Theological Seminary / Princeton University.

In other news, stroke awareness will be discussed at a free program on Monday, October 5, at 1 pm, in the library at the Federation. The presentation features The Heart Center of Greater Waterbury’s clinical nurse specialist Sandra Micalizzi, APRN, CDE, and is sponsored by Brownstein Jewish Family Service.

Stroke is a leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States.

Factors that may increase individual risk for a stroke and the symptoms of a stroke will be discussed.

Quick action can prevent a disability or save a life. Come and learn what to do when a stroke strikes and how to cope with the effects of stroke. Meet with other area residents whose lives have been affected by “nature’s karate chop”.

Due to limited seating for both of these activities, the Federation recommends anyone interested in attending either program, should register with Debby Horowitz, at 267-3177 extension 105, as soon as possible.