Bereavement Support In Castro Valley, California
The grieving process for a loved one who is nearing the end of his or her life is complex and can extend for months or even years for those who are close to the person. Melodia Care Hospice provides support to bereaved families and can assist you in making the most of the last days you have with your loved one. Please contact us for more information. The ability to learn healthy mourning practices makes it simpler to move through the many phases of sorrow.
Understanding The Grieving Process
Because grief manifests itself uniquely in each individual, there is no one correct or proper method to grieve. There is also no set timetable for grieving, and some people experience sorrow in waves or intermittent bursts of intense emotion rather than as a linear process that flows smoothly from one phase to the next as is the case for others.
For family members and friends of hospice patients, grieving often begins even before the person’s death takes place. Large-scale life changes and the expectation of a loved one’s impending death take a toll on caregivers, who may begin to mourn the loss of routines and experiences they had with the dying family member in their care.
Even though you are not having to go through the stages of grief in a specific order to recover or move forward in your life, some people feel that understanding the stages of sorrow that most people go through is helpful when they are also dealing with loss. The stages of grieving are as follows:
Denial: This is a stage in which the grieving person may attempt to ignore the loss or pretend that it isn’t actually happening at all. Loved ones may be resistant to the notion that an illness is actually fatal, or they may struggle to accept that the person they care about has passed away.
Anger: The rage phase of mourning can manifest itself in a variety of ways. In other cases, a family member may become enraged with the person who is dying, which can result in feelings of guilt on top of the grief experienced. Angry feelings may also be directed at the doctors or other medical personnel who are caring for a dying family member. Occasionally, bereaved family members feel enraged at God or at the course of events. If you’re experiencing this type of fury, a spiritual counsellor, priest, or chaplain can provide assistance.
Bargaining: An individual’s family member may attempt to make a deal in order to keep their loved one alive or to pull the person back from the brink of death during the bargaining phase. Prayers that promise good behavior in exchange for a miracle, or urging doctors to rescue a loved one in exchange for money, are examples of bargaining tactics.
Depression: When mental efforts to preserve a loved one have failed, depression is common after they have been abandoned. It is common for people who are grieving to spend a significant amount of time sobbing, feeling sad, and recalling memories of the person who has died.
Acceptance: It is at the acceptance stage of the mourning process that the person begins to genuinely comprehend that their loved one has passed away. It is also during this stage that the person begins to discover methods to remember and honor their loved one’s life without being overtaken by sadness.
Self-Help Strategies For Coping With Grief
It might be difficult to navigate the grief process on one’s alone. Some people have special ways they’ve developed to deal with various issues in their lives, and these strategies may also be beneficial during a time of mourning. Consider some of the following strategies for dealing with loss:
Sharing your feelings: Talking about your feelings with others might assist to alleviate the stress of a loss. Inform your pals that you are not looking for advice or answers and are merely interested in sharing your feelings or reminiscing about the person you have lost.
Keeping a journal: A journal not only allows you to process your feelings and ideas, but it also serves as a permanent record of your progress through the grieving process. In looking back, you can see how your perspective on the loss has evolved over time, which might help you realize that your grief is a continuous process.
Getting creative: Arts and crafts as well as musical expression and processing are all effective ways to express your creativity and process overwhelming emotions.
Setting aside time to grieve: It may seem paradoxical to schedule time for grieving, but setting up particular time on your daily calendar to grieve might help you handle overwhelming feelings completely. Allow yourself to cry, yell, or otherwise express powerful emotions during this time, and find a safe space where you can grieve without fear of being judged or ridiculed.
Avoid making big changes in your life: It’s important to keep your life as normal as possible after a severe loss because the turmoil caused by the loss is quite distressing. Hold off on making major life decisions such as changing employment, relocating, or making other significant changes until you have worked through the grieving process.
Exercising regularly: Physical activity should be incorporated into your daily routine to assist you in releasing energy as a form of grief expression. Use a peaceful walk or run to calm your body and emotions, or punch and kick at a punching bag to work out your anger and fury over your loss to help you feel better about yourself.
Participating in social activities: Being at home alone can cause you to become completely involved in your grief, so make it a point to go out to lunch with friends or join a social group whenever you have the opportunity.
Taking refuge in your religious practices: It is possible that attending services will help you cope with your loss if you are a frequent churchgoer. There are a variety of additional methods for dealing with the spiritual components of grief, including private prayer, meditation and listening to religious music.
Relaxed, healthy reminiscing: During a time of grief, it can be comforting to remember the good times you shared with the person who has passed away. When you’re grieving, take some time to go through old photos, read words from your deceased loved one, or watch movies that were shot during their lifetime. To keep a connection with the person who has died even after their death, you may want to speak out or write a letter to express your thoughts and feelings.
Memorialize your loved one: If the person you are grieving had a particular interest in a certain cause or charity, consider volunteering or making a donation in that person’s honor to that cause or organization.
Spending time with pets: Animal companions provide unconditional affection and comfort, which may be beneficial in coping with grief and loss. In the event that you do not have pets of your own, consider volunteering at an animal shelter to walk dogs or socialize kittens in preparation for adoption.
Joining a grief support group: Being in the company of others who have also just suffered a great loss can allow you to bear the weight of your sorrow more easily. There may be a local support group for those who have lost someone to a certain ailment, such as cancer or heart disease, if your loved one died as a result of this sickness.
Knowing What To Expect From Hospice
Nurses, home health aides, spiritual counsellors, and volunteers are all examples of hospice professionals. A tailored assessment is provided by a nurse when you or a loved one is admitted to hospice care. This assessment aids in the collaboration of all members of your hospice team in order to provide the specific care you require. Given the uniqueness of each hospice patient, your care binders may include information on medication schedules, daily routines, and the names and phone numbers of medical providers.
A number of different care workers come directly to your house to assist you in managing your terminal illness, assisting with daily living activities, and providing emotional and physical support throughout hospice care. As part of their overall treatment, home health aides may provide assistance with bathing.
Grief Counseling And Professional Bereavement Therapy
There are some situations in which self-help strategies for dealing with mourning are not sufficient. Generalized mourning has a tendency to fluctuate over time. However, while life will never be the same as it was before your loved one passed away, you should ultimately grow more adept at channeling your grief-related emotions into something constructive.
If you need assistance dealing through your loss, professional bereavement counselling may be of use to you. Some symptoms that your grief may be causing troubles that are beyond your ability to deal on your own are as follows:
- Having trouble sleeping
- Addiction to food for an extended period of time
- Feelings of worthlessness or helplessness
- Neglecting personal care and household tasks
- Not being able to return to work or regular activities for months or even years after the initial loss of consciousness
- Suicidal thoughts
If you believe you are unable to manage with grieving on your own, seek the help of a registered mental health professional in your area. You might seek help from a psychologist or counsellor for particular ways to deal with the many stages of grieving you are going through. Bereavement counselling is provided in both one-on-one and group settings, so you can find a setting that best meets your needs and preferences.
Putting The Focus On Comfort
Because the goal of hospice care is to improve the quality of life of the patient, comfort is an important consideration. If you or a family member has cherished possessions that provide you or them comfort and joy, make sure to keep those items readily available. This could entail keeping a warm throw on the sofa or putting photos of grandchildren in a child’s room. Also included may be the purchase of a favorite body lotion or lip balm that the hospice patient appreciates. Another method to preserve a familiar and comfortable setting for the patient is to keep his or her favorite meals on hand, subject to any dietary restrictions that may apply. You could also choose to place a television near the patient’s bed or in front of a comfortable, supportive chair so that they can watch a favorite program while resting.
Family members of our hospice patients can receive thorough grieving assistance from Melodia Care Hospice, which knows that the bereavement process can be tough for them. Please get in touch with us if you require any extra information about our palliative care and hospice services.
You can reach us at any time by contacting us through our 24/7 online customer support chat or by calling 1-888 635-6347 (MELODI-7) & Melodia Care Hospice.