Project offers professionally led support groups while it gathers information on most effective ways to cope with the loss of a spouse or partner

SAN FRANCISCO, February 1, 2006 -- People over age 50 who are experiencing the recent loss of a spouse or life partner can receive free grief support in group settings while participating in a study conducted by health and aging researchers at San Francisco State University.

The Living After Loss project was funded by the National Institute on Aging and the National Institutes of Health. The purpose of this project is to identify the most effective ways in which recently widowed people cope with grief and long-term adjustments.

Participants will attend 14 sessions that will provide opportunities to share experiences, learn new coping skills and receive support from others. This investigation, a collaboration between SFSU and University of Utah, will be conducted by the professionally trained staff of each university in their respective cities.

The once-a-week sessions begin in late March and will be held at a safe and convenient location in San Francisco. Participants must be over age 50, recently widowed or bereft of their partner within the past two to six months, and willing to attend all 14 sessions.

For more information about participating in the project, please call the Living After Loss project office at SFSU at (415) 405-7582 or visit: www.nurs.utah.edu/centeronaging/livingafterloss.