Tabitha Offers a Variety of Support Groups in September

Tabitha, Nebraska’s industry-leading Senior Care provider, offers a variety of support groups throughout Hall, Hamilton, Merrick, Clay, Buffalo, Kearney and surrounding counties.

Helpful for many people processing their grief, grief groups give participants the opportunity to connect with others who are experiencing kindred feelings of loss.

Tabitha offers online grief groups to meet and connect with bereaved individuals in need of support. To suggest a new idea or topic for an online grief support group, call 402.486.8506 or visit Tabitha.org/Bereavement.

Additionally, Tabitha offers in-person grief support groups.

·         Grief Support Group (Grand Island) is open to anyone in the area who is experiencing loss or is in need of support. The next meeting will be at 3 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 16 at Tabitha at Prairie Commons, located at 3490 Ewoldt St., Grand Island, NE. Please call 308.389.6002 to register for this grief group.

·         Grief Support Group (Aurora) is open to anyone in the area who is experiencing loss or is in need of support. The next meeting will be at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at Aurora Methodist Church, located at 1104 A St., Aurora, NE. Please call 402.362.7739 to register for this grief group.

If you are interested in enrolling in a grief group, please contact a bereavement coordinator by calling 402.362.7739 or register online by visiting Tabitha.org/Bereavement. Participation for all grief support groups is free.

Tabitha is also offering hospice volunteer training online. Hospice volunteering is a rewarding opportunity that provides companionship, pet therapy, bereavement support, respite care and clerical support while providing comfort and joy to Tabitha Hospice clients and families. For questions or to learn more, contact TabithaHospiceVolunteers@Tabitha.org.

Tabitha Tip: How Libraries Shape a Healthy Humankind
Ever dream of taking a fanciful trip to a faraway land? Taming a majestic creature? Chumming up with a pirate gang? Living vicariously through an ultra-peckish caterpillar who can’t help but eat everything in sight? We have good news: to make these dreams come true, you only have to travel as far as the library!

When was the last time you took advantage of your local library’s plethora of programming and resources? September is Library Card Sign-Up Month, and you may be overdue for a reminder on how your community library helps forms the concept of connection as we know it.

Libraries were created to quell isolation. Have you heard of the “third place” concept? During a typical day, you’ll spend most of your time between two places: home and work. This “third place” is a casual space without obligation—as opposed to a meeting or appointment—meant to harbor human connection and help an individual feel involved in and closer to their community.

Quite frankly, the library is the epitome of a third place: it provides a comfortable environment to learn more about just about anything, go online, participate in an activity or meet with friends. Then, when it’s time to head out, checking out a book, DVD or even a musical instrument allows you to bring a piece of that safe space home.

They provide access in a multitude of ways. It may seem like most modern places—from stores to restaurants and even some homes—are built with able-bodied adults in mind. Libraries provide access in more ways than just borrowing an audiobook or utilizing free internet; they’re also intentionally built around younger and older guests’ needs.

Not only do seniors receive an inviting spot for budding relationships to bloom, libraries provide resources for them to obtain media literacy, learn how to safely browse the net and obtain information through various forms of media.

Libraries are also child advocacy centers by proxy; all children can benefit from story hours and developmentally important information and activities. Just picture the story (or movie) of “Matilda,” where the main character’s visits to the library empower her to learn about the world through books, stand up for herself and seek out mentors to be surrounded and supported by.

Make the world a better place. Communication and accessibility are major ingredients to this formula, but there’s many more crucial ideas and features that libraries offer our society. When people make a conscious effort to dive into a brand new topic that contains a different worldly perspective, their sympathy and understanding strengthens.

Better yet: those who frequent the library may feel inspired to direct their learnings into tangible efforts to make a difference in the lives of others. The importance of being active in your community should never be underestimated—through kindness, collaboration and trust, residents are stronger together.

According to a blog post from leading publishing company Penguin Random House, “More than 90 percent of Americans see their library as ‘very’ or ‘somewhat’ important to their community.” The best way to support this crucial resource is to use it—which starts with simply signing up. Enjoy your library endeavors!

This health tip is brought to you by Tabitha. To learn more, visit us at Tabitha.org or call 308.389.6002.