Social and Emotional Support
Funeral Planning
Grief and Loss Resources

Facing the Loss of a Loved One
With the passing of a loved one, feelings of grief and loss can overcome family and friends. Caregivers confront the loss of a daily caregiving routine that often leaves them with a feeling of abandonment.

Adding stress to an already emotional situation, families who have not pre-planned for funerals often struggle to make important decisions regarding funeral arrangements. All of these things can add up to an overwhelming amount of stress and sadness, but there’s hope. With the right support, you can learn how to deal with these feelings, as well as how to handle logistical obstacles that arise when a loved one passes on.

Social and Emotional Support
During the time of loss, social and emotional support can help ease the process of grieving and assist in gradually adopting a new lifestyle.  Beyond family, friends, and religious organizations, social and emotional support is available through support groups—on-line or in person—that allow grieving individuals to share similar feelings and experiences.

You may also visit the following website for information on palliative
(end-of-life) care and support for families and caregivers:
UPMC Comprehensive Palliative Care Program

Funeral Planning

The following publications and resources offer information to help with decision making, pre-planning, and the finalizing of funeral arrangements:

Funerals: A Consumer’s Guide (pdf file)
Published by the Federal Trade Commission

Funerals: A Consumer Guide
Published by the Federal Trade Commission

Funeral Planning Resources

Many of our documents are available in PDF format. To read PDF files, Adobe Acrobat Reader® software must be installed on your computer. Download Acrobat Reader (free version).