Healing from Grief: Support Strategies for Seniors
According to the Recovery Village, around 2.5 million people die every year in the United States. Each death leaves an average of five mourners behind.
You may think that as you get older, grieving gets easier. Coping with loss is unique for each person, and healing from grief is always a tough process.
Do you have a senior in your life who needs emotional healing from a recent death? Here are some ways that you can help them navigate a challenging period in their life.
Seniors Coping With Loss
Grief can be devastating at any point in life, but experiencing loss affects seniors differently, as shown by Caring for the Ages.
Seniors may struggle with participating in activities that help people distract themselves from loss. For instance, some mourners welcome the daily routines of jobs and family life that seniors no longer have to consider.
Seniors sometimes find that losing someone they love diminishes their sense of purpose. It may also lead them to consider their own mortality.
Symptoms of Grief
If your elderly loved one recently experienced a loss, there are some signs and symptoms that you need to look out for.
Remember: grief looks different for everyone. Your loved one may exhibit all of the below symptoms or none of them.
Physical Symptoms
Strong emotions like grief can take a toll on the body. Some of the biggest physical afflictions stemming from grief include:
- Stomachaches and nausea
- Chest pain
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Sleep problems
- Muscle aches and weakness
Emotional Symptoms
Grief is a major emotion, so expect emotional symptoms as well, such as:
- Sadness
- Anger
- Confusion
- Anxiety
- Despair
- Guilt
- Anxiety
Senior Grief Support Methods
Grief can feel overwhelming for the person experiencing it. It is vital to provide support for your loved one as they go through the complicated process.
If you don't know what to do first, consider some of the following elder support resources.
Bereavement Counseling
Speaking with a professional can aid in emotional healing. Search for a therapist who specializes in grief. They will have unique insights and coping techniques to help your loved one.
Grief counseling offers benefits such as:
- A safe place to process emotions
- Learning communication skills
- Working through trauma surrounding the loss
- Regaining control of emotions
- Accepting the reality of the situation
The time needed for bereavement counseling can vary based on the individual and how close they were to the person they lost.
There are also different therapeutic techniques to try. Two of the most popular are cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).
For bereavement, there are options for individual or group therapy. Sometimes, group therapy is helpful when going through grief because you can relate to others around you through shared experiences.
Encouraging Routine
Grief can throw people out of their normal routines. Time can pass too slowly or too quickly. Regular activities may be canceled or postponed.
One of the best things you can do for the senior in your life is to rebuild their routine. Even if their daily schedule changes due to the loss, it is still helpful to stick to the same general timetable every day.
Help With Everyday Tasks
When going through grief, even completing the simplest chores can seem impossible. For seniors, issues like mobility can add to the dilemma.
Check in on your loved one in bereavement to see if they have chores that need to be completed. Even washing some dishes or dusting the furniture can make a huge difference.
Sometimes, it is better to jump in and help rather than ask your loved one what you can do. They may feel overwhelmed or too shy to ask for assistance.
Journaling
Writing in a journal is a fantastic way to aid in emotional healing. Getting emotions out on paper can feel like physically releasing them.
Consider asking your loved one if they journal. Or, you can purchase them a journal that they may love.
Some journals are all blank, while others come with helpful prompts. There are even special journals designed to help people go through the grieving process.
Although releasing thoughts in any way is therapeutic, there is more benefit to physically writing rather than typing.
Physical Activities
Movement is a great way to process grief and work through heavy emotions. Maintaining physical health has a positive effect on emotional health.
For seniors, taking a walk around the neighborhood or doing a light aerobics class may be sufficient for exercise. Some workout centers have special classes for older folks, such as chair yoga and modified aerobics.
If your loved one is still grieving heavily, take it slowly when it comes to exercise. Encourage them to try a small amount of activity first rather than going all in with a new workout regimen.
Check the community calendar to see if there are any activities that your loved one may be interested in.
Finding a New Hobby
It is never too late to discover a hobby that you might love. When seniors enter retirement communities, they may find a new passion with all of the amenities and entertainment available.
Some popular hobbies to try include:
- Needlework (knitting, crocheting, embroidery, et cetera)
- Gardening
- Art (drawing, painting, or sculpting)
- Reading
- Puzzles (brain teasers or jigsaw puzzles)
Since you know your elderly loved one, try to narrow down a list of hobbies they may enjoy. Sometimes, it is hard to find things to do when you are consumed with grief. They may need a little push to get started.
Help Seniors Healing From Grief
Healing from grief is challenging at any age, but it can be especially detrimental for seniors. That's why it is so important to ensure they have a community to help them navigate through major life events.
LakeHouse Three Rivers is a premier senior living community located in Three Rivers, MI. Our retirement community features an array of activities and amenities to help seniors thrive.
Are you interested in joining LakeHouse Three Rivers? Reach out to us today to learn more or schedule a tour.