LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- While the holiday season can be a time of joy for many people, it can also cause feelings of anxiety, dread and loneliness for others.

Since 2016, the Hildegard House has been helping people at the end of their life. This holiday season, the nonprofit has advice for people grieving their loved ones.

"People think the holidays are always happy, but sometimes it's a little more difficult for people, "said Karen Cassidy, executive director of Hildegard House.

Hildegard House provides short-term, end-of-life care to adults without a home or loved ones to care for them. Cassidy is aware of how losing someone can affect a person's mental health, especially around November or December.

"It's hard for people that are going through any kind of grief or loss, sometimes even to let other people know," Cassidy said. "Even my dad who was mentioning my mom has been gone 10 years this year Thanksgiving with tears in his eyes. I think sometimes we think that grief should be hurried up or not talked about but it really has its own schedule."

Cassidy has three suggestions for people to cope with grief around the holiday season:

  • Decide how much you want to reveal to other people. Privacy is an option and so is sharing deeply
  • Light a candle for your person
  • Cook their favorite food and share the recipe with others

Melina Addie and Don Feeney are compassionate caregivers at the Hildegard House.

"My father passed away in 2021," Addie said. "I felt like I wasn't able to do as much as I would have liked for him during that time. And this just really helps me work through that grief and in being able to do that for other people."

Addie and Feeney volunteer to feed, clean and keep people company in their final days.

"It's always sad to hear about all of the residents but there's one particular, one in particular that you know you get closer to," Feeney said.

They said their work is an important reminder to check in with loved ones, as this time of year can stir up feelings of grief and loss.

"It can be a deep process, a slow process," Cassidy said. "It's a soulful process and it can't be rushed."

To learn more about the Hildegard House, click here. Click here to donate to their Wish List.

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