Skip to main content

Ways to Help a Grieving Senior

Grief is tough for anyone to handle alone, and when a senior is dealing with the loss of a loved one that they may have spent most of their lives with, it can make the tremendous loss even more difficult.

For seniors at home, the days and weeks after the loss of a loved one can be especially hard as they navigate their daily life and tasks and figure out what their new normal is. If they are now alone in their home for the first time, this can be a huge adjustment for them.

There are ways that family members and caregivers can help to ease the grief of a senior who has experienced the loss of a spouse or loved one.

Hire a home care aide. If they aren’t already receiving home care, consider hiring a professional company to send compassionate caregivers to assist your senior with daily needs and offer companionship during their lonely times.

If your senior parent doesn’t need full-time care, you have the option of having someone come out to their home during certain times at hours that you can choose. If you notice that your senior loved one is struggling with their grief or loneliness during a certain period of time or certain hours of each day, you could consider having a caregiver come out to be with them during that time.

Listen to them. Often, people who have experienced the devastating loss of a spouse or loved one just want to talk about it. Sometimes, if they may have experienced a traumatic event with regards to the loss, they may feel the need to relive the moments. It can be hard to see a parent or loved one grieving, but being there to listen to them share their memories or talk about their deceased loved one can be good in allowing them to express their grief.

On the contrary, some seniors may not want to talk about it right away. It is important not to push them, and to be there, willing to listen whenever they may become ready. If you have hired home care for your loved one, they will be a great support for your parent if they are wanting someone to talk to in their home.

Create a memorial. For some people who have suffered a great loss, memorializing their loved one can help them in their grieving process. If they seem to want to look at pictures often, or are spending time with objects that meant a lot to their loved one, consider asking them if they wish to create a place in their home using sentimental photos or objects to honor their spouse or loved one.

Seek support. It is important to remember that everyone grieves in their own way. If you or the home care professionals are noticing that your loved one is struggling to get past the immense grief that often follows the loss of a spouse, or they are having more difficult days than good ones, check in with their health care professional about seeking counseling support and having them screened for depression.

When you are in need of care for a senior loved one, consider home care provided by Golden Heart Senior Care. We have offices nationwide. For more information, call us today at (800) 601-2792.

The post Ways to Help a Grieving Senior appeared first on Golden Heart Senior Care.



from Golden Heart Senior Care https://ift.tt/2nmnmoI
via IFTTT
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dads and Pops: Your Good Health Matters to Us 

Did you know  June is  Men’s Health Month  and Father’s Day anchors Men’s Health Week ?   Celebrate dad on Father’s Day and thank him for all he  has  done, but  also  make sure to seize an opportunity sometime this month to have a conversation with him about his health. This awareness campaign has the critical purpose of informing men   that avoiding preventive healthcare puts them at real and serious risk of  contracting a disease or  acquiring  a chronic condition.   Studies consistently  show the numbers go against men , particularly as they advance into their senior years.   Even with dramatic advances in diagnosis and treatment over the past 100 years, men’s life expectancy still lags significantly behind women. According to  Harvard Health ,  the gap is widening. In 1900, the life expectancy for women was 48.3 years vs. 46.3 for men. In 2017, it was 81.1 years for women vs. 76.1 for men. Harvard...
Post a Comment
Read more

Memorize These Six Signs of a Scam

An 88-year-old woman is one of the latest victims of the sweepstakes scam. She lost $160,000 in order to get the millions the scammer claimed she’d won through the Publishers Clearing House. She’s not alone. This scam has been around for years and has affected tens of thousands. Be aware of the six signs of a scam to avoid losing money. The Caller Insists You Not Tell Anyone In a scam, the caller will insist that you cannot tell anyone. This is more likely to happen with the grandparent scam. The caller will say that the grandchild’s parents cannot know. Secrecy is important to the “grandchild.” If your parents are told not to tell anyone, it’s very likely a scam. Your parents should immediately report the scam to local authorities or the FTC at 1-877-382-4357. The Contact Arrives Out of the Blue A scam is going to start with a random call, email, or unsolicited mailer. Your parents didn’t enter a contest. It could be a scammer posing as a police officer, IRS representative, or ...
Post a Comment
Read more

How to Evaluate a Memory Care Program for a Loved One

When a senior is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, or a similar form of dementia, families often begin to explore senior care options. Family members may need support with their elder’s personal care or help with keeping a senior safe while they are at work. Searching for short-term solutions may result in hiring a home care aide or enrolling in an adult day program. As the older adult’s disease advances, the search for assistance may shift to assisted living or memory care communities. While these are two distinct types of care, they are frequently located on the same campus. A memory care program is often a dedicated area of an assisted living community. It is designed to meet the unique needs of adults with memory impairment. If your family is beginning to visit memory care communities for a loved one, we have a few tips for conducting an objective evaluation of each option. 6 Tips for Evaluating a Memory Care Community 1. What is the community’s philosophy of care? Dementi...
Post a Comment
Read more