VITAS Bereavement Support Groups

(as of June 2008)

You are invited…A Caregivers’ Group

 

VITAS Innovative Hospice Care®of Central Florida invites caregivers with a loved one in a nursing facility or assisted living community or those taking care of someone at home to this new support group. We will discuss stress reduction techniques and community resources.

Suggestions for other topics are welcome.

 

3rd Wednesdays
6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

 

Location:

Florida Living

3355 East Semoran Boulevard

Apopka, FL  32708

407.862.6263

 

For more information contact Kelly Perrin, Social Services Assistant at Florida Living 407.862.62663, or Crystal Fox, VITAS Social Worker at 407.691.4590

 

Florida Living is located on Semoran Boulevard between Bear Lake Road and Hunt Club Boulevard, next to Forest Lake Academy.

 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________-

Mondays, 6:30 – 8 p.m. (ongoing)

St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church

9600 West Colonial Drive

Ocoee, FL  34761

 

Monday, 6:30 – 8 p.m.

(July 14 August 18 - six weeks)

Saints Peter & Paul
Catholic Church

5300 Old Howell Branch Road

Winter Park, FL  32792

Tuesdays, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
(July 15 August 19 - six weeks)

Nativity Catholic Church

3255 North 427

Longwood, FL 32750


Wednesdays, 6– 7:30 p.m. (ongoing)

Aloma United Methodist Church

3045 Aloma Avenue

Winter Park, FL  32792

 

Fridays, 10 – 11:30 a.m. (ongoing)

VITAS Office

5151 Adanson Street, Suite 200

Orlando, FL  32804


Please note: Groups may be cancelled if not enough participants are registered.  To register or for additional information… call Elizabeth Knowlton, VITAS Bereavement Services Manager, 407.691.4579.  Please visit our website at http://www.vitas.com

 

Other Helpful Resources

Crisis Counseling & Assistance*


Grief Line

(caring listeners who can make referrals to support groups or counseling, as needed)

Please call: 407.447.3388

(available 24 hours)

 

Lifeline of Central Florida

Please call: 407.425.2624

(available 24 hours) or 800.273.TALK (7255)

 

*For more counseling resources, call
VITAS Bereavement Services, 407.691.4549


Stephen Ministries

(one-to-one support for people going through difficult times such as the death of a loved one, divorce, illness or job loss)

At various church locations:

  All Saints Episcopal Church: 407.647.3413

  Aloma United Methodist: 407.671.2180

  Conway United Methodist: 407.277.5010

  First Presbyterian, Maitland: 407.644.3455

  First Presbyterian, Orlando 407.423.3441

  First United Methodist, Orlando: 407.849.6080

  First United Methodist of Oviedo: 407.365.3255

  St. Luke’s United Methodist: 407.876.4991

 


Church-Sponsored Groups

Tuesdays, 7 p.m.

Holy Redeemer Catholic Church

1603 North Thacker Avenue

Kissimmee, FL  34741

Contact: Brother Francis

407.847.2500

 

Tuesdays, 6– 7 p.m.

October 9 November 20

First United Methodist Church

201 South Park Avenue

Apopka, FL  32703

Please call: 407.886.3421

 


Thursdays, 10 – 11:30 a.m.

St. Mary Magdalen
Catholic Church

(Gold Room of the
Parish Life Center
)

861 Maitland Avenue

Altamonte Springs, FL  32701

Please call: 407.831.1212

 

Griefshare
(13-week video series at various churches)

  Aloma Baptist in Winter Park:
407.671.6851

  First Baptist in Ocoee:
407.293.4571 ext. 220

  First Baptist in Windermere:
407.876.2234


Hospice-Sponsored & Hospital-Sponsored Groups

 

1st Wednesdays, 7 p.m.

(6-week sessions offered
every odd-numbered month,

follow-up sessions offered monthly)

Florida Hospital Altamonte

Chatlos Conference Center

601 East Altamonte Drive

Altamonte Springs, FL  32701

Please call: 407.303.2670

 

1st Thursdays of every quarter,
7 p.m.

(5-week sessions)

Florida Hospital East Orlando

Emergency Room
Conference Room

7717 Lake Underhill Road

Orlando, FL  32822

Please call: 407.303.6822

 


Florida Hospital Kissimmee

(Spanish grief groups
offered quarterly
)

2450 North Orange Blossom Trail

Kissimmee, FL  34744

Contact: Pastoral Care

407.933.6681

 

Hospice of Orange Osceola

(call for locations)

Please call: 407.599.5079


Hospice of the Comforter

(in Seminole, Orange &
Osceola locations
)

Please call: 407.682.0808,
ext. 115

 

Orlando Regional Hospital

(6-week sessions offered
two to three times a year
)

2906 17th Street

St. Cloud, FL  34769

Contact: Community Relations

407.892.2135

 


Specialized Groups

 


Widows & Widowers

Elderhostel

(an educational and travel organization for adults 55+)

For a catalog, please call:
877.426.8056, or go to

www.elderhostel.org

 

L. I. F. T.

(monthly luncheons and day trips
for widowed persons
)

(sponsored by Carey-Hand)

Contact: Mary Kloepper

407.228.4075

 

Men’s Breakfast Group, 9 a.m.

Beginning July 17

Perkins Restaurant

5320 North Orange Blossom Trail

Orlando, FL  32810

Facilitator: Chaplain Tom McRee Participants are responsible for their own bill.

Information & RSVP: 407.691.4549

 

Widowed Persons Service
of Greater Orlando, Inc.

(for newly widowed persons in Orange and Seminole counties)

(meetings and events are held
at various locations
)

Please call: 407.290.1605

 

Parents

1st Tuesdays, 7 – 9 p.m.

The Compassionate Friends

Orlando Chapter

(for parents who have lost a child
of any age for any reason
)

Central Christian Church

250 West Ivanhoe Boulevard

Orlando, FL  32804

Please call: 407.974.9933
(24-hour line) or go to

www.tcforlando.com

2nd Tuesdays, 7 p.m.

The Compassionate Friends

Heart of Florida Chapter

Sanlando Methodist Church

1890 West State Road 434

Longwood, FL  32750

Please call: 407.321.3126, or go to www.heartoffloridatcf.org

 

Thursdays, 6:30 – 8 p.m.

Suicide Bereavement

(for those who have lost a loved one or friend through suicide)

St. Luke’s United
Methodist Church

4851 S. Apopka-Vineland Road

Orlando, FL  32819

Please call: 407.876.4991


Children & Teens

Horizons

(multi-arts program facilitated
through school counseling
)

(offered by Hospice of the Comforter)

Please call: 407.682.0808

 

New Hope For Kids

(structured program for ages 4–18)

900 North Maitland Avenue

Maitland, FL  32751

Contact: Tamari Miller,
Grief Program Director

407.599.0909  ext. 23

 

Rainbows

(for children & teens experiencing loss through death or divorce)

(sponsored by the Catholic Diocese
of Orlando
)

Contact: Terri O’Sullivan

407.246.4867

 

Siblings (adult or older teens)

2nd Tuesdays, 7 p.m.

The Compassionate Friends

Heart of Florida Chapter

Sanlando Methodist Church

1890 West State Road 434

Longwood, FL  32750
Contact: Josh 407.383.2059, or via e-mail at nolesfsu_99@yahoo.com, or go to

www.compassionatefriends.org


Online Resources

 

www.griefhelps-centfl.org

www.griefnet.org

www.counselingstlouis.net

www.griefhaven.org – Providing support and resources to parents and others who have lost a child.