New Grief Support Group For Seniors Going Through Loss In Laguna Beach

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — A new support group is being launched at the Susi Q Center this month for seniors who have suffered the loss of an adult child.

This June, Susi Q will offer a weekly "Between the Tears" Child Loss Support Group for Seniors, led by facilitator Basia Mosinski, MA. The group is designed to be a safe space to help older adults process the many feelings which accompany the heartbreak of parental bereavement, the center said in a news release.

"While there's obviously never a good time to lose a child, seniors who have experienced close relationships over the years with their grown-up children are confronted with the loss of long-time shared experiences and a friendship that has evolved over time," Basia told Patch.

"Regardless of the age of the child, it feels unnatural for their death to precede the parent's death. With seniors, this bereavement can bring up other losses and sometimes leads to isolation as the parent retreats into depression." She said.

Support groups, Basia said, are an integral part of coping with the loss of a child — no matter the age. She learned this firsthand while experiencing the loss of her stepson, who died while he was in his 40s.

She later lost her own son, who also died when he was in his 40s.

"I saw the upheaval in my family, and felt the range of emotions that come with such losses," Basia said. "I decided to walk away from a career in the arts and turn to psychology as a way to understand grieving on a deeper level and to help others going through similar experiences."

Both experiences taught Basia the importance of strong support groups, for both the wisdom shared and the strong connections formed between participants.

"Sometimes people feel like they're literally losing their minds. Every individual deals with grief differently, of course, but being with others who have experienced similar losses can bring some comfort," Basia said. "Learning from parents who have survived the greatest tragedy of their lives, and helping the newest grievers, gives purpose to many of the participants."

The group will meet on Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at no cost to those wishing to participate and no requirement to commit to a set number of sessions.

For more details, or to join the group, residents can reach out to Susi Q Director of Care Management Martha Hernandez at marthah@thesusiq.org, or call 949-715-8104.

The Susi Q Senior Center is located at 380 Third Street, Laguna Beach. Parking is free.