Don't Grieve Alone

Initially, there is a lot of support for people who are experiencing grief and loss, says social worker Cheryl Shavers, a member of Allegheny East Conference’s Calvary church in Newport News, Va. “People are calling, checking on them, attending the funeral and [organizing] meal trains. Then, in the weeks and months after, there’s no more follow-up. ... It’s around [this] time that the grief and loss is intensified, as the shock wears off, and the reality of the devastating loss begins to fully settle in. That’s when support continues to be needed, but [instead], people end up grieving alone.”

Chavers and a group of other professionals recently released the MileStone Five app to help.

The app sends users reminders to reach out to those who are grieving on anniversaries of loss, birthdays or other potentially hard days—when support is most needed. 

Watch a news story on the app.