Signs You Might Need Extra Support While Grieving

January 7, 2026

Everyone deals with grief, which can be painful at times. Most grieving people will experience some of the feelings outlined below. Ask yourself the following questions to help determine if you might benefit from grief services.


Has your patience level changed?

  • Are you always irritable?
  • Are you always annoyed?
  • Are you always intolerant?
  • Are you always angry?


Do you feel numbness or isolation?

  • Are you experiencing an ongoing sense of numbness?
  • Are you experiencing an ongoing sense of being isolated from yourself or from others?


Do you feel alone with your grief?

  • Do you usually feel that you have no one to talk to about what has happened?


Are you anxious or fearful about death?

  • Since your loved one died, are you highly anxious most of the time about your own death or the death of someone you love?
  • Are these feelings beginning to interfere with your relationships, your ability to concentrate or your ability to live as you would like to live?


Are you consumed by thoughts of your loved one or their death?

  • Do you feel that you are always and continually preoccupied with memories or thoughts of your loved one?
  • Do you feel that you are always and continually preoccupied with the death itself?
  • Do you feel that you are always and continually preoccupied with certain aspects of the death even after several months?


Do you feel restlessness or the need to stay busy?

  • Do you usually feel restless or in “high gear?”
  • Do you feel the need to be constantly busy beyond what is normal for you?


Do you fear intimacy or closeness with others?

  • Are you afraid of becoming close to new people in fear of losing them?
  • Do you think being close with others will cause pain?


Are your behaviors becoming harmful?

  • Are you drinking more than you used to?
  • Are you using more prescription or non-prescription drugs?
  • Are you engaging in sexual activity that is unsafe or unwise?
  • Are you driving in an unsafe or reckless manner?
  • Are you considering serious thoughts of suicide?


Do you feel overwhelmed with responsibility for surviving family and close friends?

  • Are you feeling heavily burdened or like you are taking on too much?
  • Are you angry or feel like the situation is suffocating?
  • Are you resentful because you feel as though no one is there for you?


Are you continually limiting your reactions and emotions?

  • Are you experiencing only a few of the reactions or emotions that usually come with grief?
  • Are you unable to express your thoughts or feelings about your loved one and their death through words and actions?
  • Are you only remembering certain aspects of your loved one or your relationship together?


Do you feel like you are going crazy?

  • Are you wondering if what you are experiencing is normal?
  • Do you feel stuck or unable to move on?


A helping hand and a listening ear can be valuable while grieving. If any of these feelings continue for a prolonged period of time, or become extremely intense, you may benefit from additional help from a grief care professional.


Our grief care services are for anyone in the community who has experienced the loss of a loved one. Discover how our team can help you and your family by contacting us through our website or calling 855.492.0812.

March 24, 2026
Marla Sowers was never defined by titles though she held many. A pianist and Miss Morehead State University, a valedictorian, a beautiful singer, and an excellent writer, she carried the practical wisdom of her farming family into everything she did. As a public school elementary music teacher, Marla shaped hearts by inviting students to see kindness as strength. When a dementia diagnosis altered the rhythm of her days, her husband Richard cared for her at home and then with the help of an assisted living facility for as long as he could. After several years, the facility referred her to Bluegrass Care Navigators (BCN) for hospice services.
Bill Papania's mother
March 24, 2026
When Bill Papania thinks about Bluegrass Care Navigators, he doesn’t just remember the end of his mother’s life, he remembers the time, comfort, and connection Team BCN made possible.
The Coleman Family
March 19, 2026
In 2024, the Coleman family’s world was shattered with a devastating cancer diagnosis and unexpected loss of Jessica, devoted wife and mother. Kyle and his three daughters were overwhelmed by grief and the daily reminders of life without her. They connected with Bluegrass Care Navigators’ (BCN) grief team whose compassionate support and counseling helped the family find comfort, connection and the tools to heal together.
Bluegrass Care Navigators Expands Bluegrass Transitional Care Program with Grant Award in Partnershi
March 17, 2026
Expansion will improve access to care and chronic disease management for high-risk patients across Laurel, Jackson, and Whitley Counties
Callie, one of our volunteer therapy dogs
By By Callie, Volunteer Therapy Dog (and very good girl) March 2, 2026
Hi. I'm Callie. Most days, my job is simple: walk into rooms with my human, Mary, wag my tail, and let people know they’re not alone. I’ve been doing this therapy dog work with her for a while now, and I take it very seriously, even if I’m small and fluffy.
Doug and Lois Gates, one of our hospice families.
February 25, 2026
For Lois and Doug Gates, home has always been a place of purpose, faith and shared life. Married for more than 63 years, the couple met as teenagers, built a family through adoption, and spent decades serving others together. Their moments together became even more precious after Lois received a serious diagnosis two years ago. After undergoing surgery, the cancer recurred, and the couple chose to forgo additional treatment and live the best quality of life possible with support from Bluegrass Care Navigators (BCN).
PACE participants at Thanksgiving meal
February 17, 2026
The Bluegrass PACE Care team and participants kicked off the holiday season with their annual Thanksgiving lunch. The atmosphere was filled with gratitude and joy, as everyone enjoyed a delicious meal and each other's company. The PACE team continued to celebrate the holiday season with fun activities in the weeks to come.
Bluegrass Care Navigators provides care in person and via phone
By Lisa Lewis, Support Center RN February 17, 2026
As a Support Center RN, I’ve witnessed many moments of compassion, but few have touched me as deeply as the call I received from a patient’s wife in our Pikeville region. She shared how our nurse, Tiffany Little (RN), provided care with such warmth and dedication that her presence brought genuine comfort and support to their lives.
Tim and Helen Hoffstedder
February 17, 2026
Team BCN brought compassionate, personalized care to Tim and Helen Hoffstedder during a challenging chapter in their lives. After receiving a dementia diagnosis almost seven years ago, Helen’s family did their best to care for her at home. When she required additional support, they moved her to ColdSpring Transitional Care where she could receive high-quality care around the clock. In February 2024, she began retaining fluid and had difficulty breathing. The team at ColdSpring Care referred the family to Bluegrass Hospice Care and that extra support brought her husband Tim immense reassurance.
nurse and patient making a heart
February 17, 2026
Thanks to your remarkable generosity, our two-year Care Reimagined fundraising campaign has been a resounding success. With your steadfast support, Bluegrass Care Navigators exceeded our ambitious $7 million goal by the December 31, 2025, deadline! This achievement ensures that we can continue to provide essential care and support to seriously and terminally ill individuals within our community.