Remember My Baby (RMB) is a charity organization co-founded by Nicky Heppenstall — a bereaved mother herself — that offers its services to parents with still-born children. Their goal is to help the former capture precious moments with their babies before they part. RMB now has 130 specially-trained volunteer photographers who can be sent on short notice to help bereaved parents create photographic documentaries of their babies and give them mementos that they can treasure forever. To learn more, click here.

While making funeral arrangements can be both emotional and expensive, you can always make financial decisions regarding funerals ahead of time. Here are some tips offered by the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Consumer Information Malagros Johnson on how to avoid being taken advantage of when making funeral arrangements. –       Check whether or not the funeral home is licensed. –       Make sure to secure a standard contract should you wish to prepay. –       Contact the Department of Professional Licensure or the office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulations if you need guidance. To learn more, click here.

Apart from grief, the death of a loved one can also have a serious financial impact on you. Other than the expenses on funeral preparations, you may also have to spend on medications or therapy. In addition, people in grief often end up making bad financial decisions. To avoid these problems, here a few steps you should consider: Ask a close friend or relative to manage your money or keep track of your paperwork. Contact the insurer, bank and investment providers of the deceased. Seek advice from the Customer Credit Counselling Service. Get a prescription free-payment certificate if you need a long-term course of antidepressants. Consider counselling or specialist therapy to help you recover. Click here to learn more.

How do you add storage that doesn’t compromise the design and aesthetic appeal of your home? Well, that’s one question that many homeowners certainly need answered. Simply consider the practical tips below: Maximize efficiency by assigning an area to a specific task Highlight decorative objects through a built-in display case/shelf Use a vintage ladder to organize blankets Install hooks in the bathroom for additional storage Spray paint a cheap filing cabinet  and top it with plywood Click here to learn more.

In Lichfield, a new bereavement service was opened in the hopes of helping people deal with grief and loss. The Bereavement Help Point, a weekly drop-in service, is run by volunteers who have experienced giving support to those people who have lost their loved ones at one point. The service offers not only emotional support but also practical assistance including signposting, information to other specialist services. It provides bereaved individuals the opportunity to sit and talk about their loss with the volunteers. The Bereavement Help Point will run every Wednesday between 2:30pm and 4:30pm and is open to anyone resident in Lichfield and its surrounding areas. To learn more, check this link.

Compassion is a trait that we have always valued not only in our personal relationships but also in our workplace. Although it is considered to be very important, this trait is rarely discussed when we are at work. And because we know for a fact that a compassionate work environment results in more positive work relationships, it is important that leaders and managers out there employ ways to develop a compassionate workplace. –          Try a morning ritual where you set a positive tone. –          Look for those things that you have in common with your colleagues. –          Practice random and intentional acts of kindness. To learn more, visit huffingtonpost.com.

Grief is essential for healing. While many bereaved individuals tell themselves that they should be able to do without it, taking one’s time through the grieving process, and mourning, is the only known and effective way of recovering from a severe loss. Engaging in activities, such as story telling, writing, volunteering, support groups, and other means that can bring one closer to loved ones and people who may be able to help him, can certainly make the feelings of loss more bearable. To learn more, click here.

Negative emotions over a loss can be triggered by certain reminders, like an anniversary, birthday, and holidays that you used to spend with a deceased loved one. Here are some tips on properly handling these emotions: Plan a small gathering or get-together with important persons in your life. Focus on the good things that are worth remembering rather that dwelling on your loss. Make time for worthwhile activities like participating in charitable events. Click here to learn more.  

A memorial celebration allows you and your family and friends to commemorate the life of a departed loved one. While there are no particular rules as to how people should pull this event, one important thing to remember is that the latter should allow people to express their love and appreciation for the person. Plan a service that’s unique and features the essence of your loved one to you and to other people. Schedule the event when many of your relatives and friends can come and join you in the commemoration. Select a location that’s sacred or had sentimental value for the deceased. To know more, click here.