What Are the Best Ways to Help an Elderly Loved One to Grieve a Loss?

Caregiver in Southampton NY

Loss is painful no matter what stage of life you’re in and that’s definitely the case for your elderly loved one. Watching your elderly loved one grieve can be excruciating as a family caregiver, but there are some things you can do to help her move through her emotions.

Listen to Your Elderly Loved One

Often when someone you love experiences a loss, they need to talk about it. This can especially be the case with your elderly loved one. Make sure that you’re there and able to listen to her. You don’t even need to worry about saying the right things, because many times simply being a willing ear is more than enough. If your loved one can’t talk about her grief yet, encourage her to try journaling instead.

Make Sure She’s Physically Taken Care Of

Grief takes a physical toll on people, so it’s essential to make sure that your elderly loved one is physically cared for as much as you can. Make sure that she’s eating, even if it’s only smaller meals. She’ll also need plenty of water, sleep, and exercise. It’s also important to make sure that she doesn’t skip medications that she requires.

Be Patient with Your Loved One’s Grief

Your elderly loved one’s grief may not go quickly or quietly. It’s important to be as patient as you can with her and with her grief. Your loved one might not enjoy many of her normal activities and she may even be unable to keep her focus on anything. All of this is normal and needs just that extra little bit of patience to get through.

Help Her to Find a Support Group

Many people who are grieving find great strength and assistance from support groups. Talk to your elderly loved one about joining a support group. Even if she finds talking with you difficult, she may be able to talk to the members of a support group and gain help there. If attending physical meetings is difficult, help her to find online groups that can be just as helpful during her grief.

Grieving takes time and your elderly loved one may find herself revisiting her grief often.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional caregiver services in Southampton, NY, call the caring staff at Artful Home Care today at 631-685-5001.