Helping Seniors to Cope with Grief

For our aging parents and relatives, the loss of a spouse, siblings and friends is an all too often occurrence.  While we understand that death is a part of life especially for the elderly, Barbara Moscowitz, a social worker at the Massachusetts General Hospital’s Senior Health program, reminds us to think about how we would feel if we were attending funerals for our friends at the same frequency as our elderly parents. 

Her advice is to allow a parent to talk about their losses and refrain from offering platitudes such as “I know how you feel,” or, “It’s for the better.”  Moscowitz explains that, “Those people are part of their history, their legacy,” And she adds, “If we send a message that we don’t want to hear about it, it says: That person is not worth remembering.”  Also remember that while grief is a universal emotion, we all grieve in our own way and on our own timetable.  For some, it the grieving process may take months, and for others, it may take years.   

Do watch for signs that a person is experiencing more than the normal stages of grief.  Type of things to look for include: not feeling any better as time passes, extreme difficulty in getting on with the tasks of daily living, taking no pleasure in favorite activities, and any talk or thoughts of suicide.

  

An article on HelpGuide.org offers good advice for coping during the grieving process.  One of the first things to remember is that while it is difficult to go through, with time, things will get better.  Also you do not always need to be strong.  It is normal to show emotions and to accept them as a part of the grieving process.  Do reach out to family, friends and spiritual advisors.  It may also be beneficial to find a support group or to see a grief counselor. 

Furthermore, do not neglect your physical and emotional health.  It is important to exercise and get outside as well as to eat well and get enough sleep.  In addition it can help to start a journal or to put together a scrapbook of your loved one.  It may also help to contact an in home care provider such as Austin’s SYNERGY HomeCare.  Our extensive services include things such as providing assistance with meal preparation, light housekeeping, transportation and companionship. 

SYNERGY HomeCare is one of the most respected agencies in Central Texas for non-medical home care.  With three offices located in the greater Austin area, we provide senior care, recovery assistance and respite for family caregivers as well as assist clients dealing with dementia, Alzheimer’s, arthritis, Parkinson’s and more. Please contact us to discuss our range of options for providing your family peace of mind with professional home health care.

Sources:newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/10/words-for-seniors-facing-loss/?_r=0

familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/seniors/caregiving/helping-older-adults-deal-with-life-changing-events.html, helpguide.org/articles/grief-loss/coping-with-grief-and-loss.htm