Have you ever attempted to walk beside a church family member who is making their final journey through life due to critical illness or provide support to someone who is caring for a loved one at that critical juncture in life only to discover that  you don’t have the tools and understanding that you really need to be there with them?
The Last Walk: A training seminar for pastors & pastoral care lay representatives will be offered Thursday, June 28  from 11:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at Home Hospice of Grayson County, located at 505 West Center Street in Sherman.  A light lunch will be served.

The purpose of the seminar is to provide tools that will enable church pastors and lay representatives to increase their support for members of their church who are walking through the final days, weeks or months of life.  The seminar is presented as a part of our community education program to all by Home Hospice of Grayson, Cooke and Fannin Counties. There is no cost to attend this seminar, but reservations are requested. 
“Our final walk is a difficult part of our journey.  When someone is making that last walk, they need the presence of someone willing to provide much needed support and information.  Sometimes we have fears and concerns and some of the people we are most likely to look to for help lack the resources to address those.  This seminar can put information and resources into the hands of those we often ask to walk alongside us,” said Sherry Little, executive director, of Home Hospice.  “This seminar provides all of that and more – there is a lot that participants will take away from this brief time together.”

Presenting at the seminar will be hospice-trained medical personnel, social workers, a chaplain and other professionals who will empower those in attendance to better work with families who are experiencing end-of-life needs.  Some of the topics will include Maximizing a Good End-of-Life Experience, The End-Of-Life Process, End-of-Life Options, Grief for the Patient and Family, The Role of Spiritual Care, Self Care for Clergy & the Caregiver, and more.

Jerryd Wallace, Chaplain at Home Hospice says, “We hope this seminar will be an opportunity to focus on various aspects of death and dying and to provide tools that preachers and lay care representatives can utilize to supplement their own ministries in their local churches.”

If you have questions about the seminar, please call Sherry Little or Jerryd Wallace at 903-868-9315.  To register for the seminar call Lois Morris or email lois.morris@homehospice.org.