Bereavement Support In Los Banos, California
Palliative care includes bereavement support as well. Numerous Audits of palliative care services on the other hand, have consistently highlighted bereavement support as a top priority for improvement.
These days, we’re all dealing with grief in some way. As the pandemic spreads more of us will be affected by death and should seek Bereavement Support.
It might be difficult to know how to help a bereaved relative, friend or colleague. We may be frightened of saying something hurtful, so we don’t say anything at all leaving the bereaved individual feeling isolated and alone.
If you haven’t experienced the loss of a loved one, you may have unrealistic expectations about how the grieving person should feel or how quickly they should resume daily activities or move on with their lives.
Loss causes grief, which is a natural reaction. It’s the emotional pain you experience when you lose something or someone you care about. Loss is often excruciatingly painful. From shock or fury to disbelief, remorse and profound sadness you may experience a wide range of uncomfortable and unexpected emotions. Grief can cause physical health problems, making it difficult to sleep, eat or even think clearly. These are common reactions to loss and the larger the loss, the more severe your grieving.
There are numerous things you may do or say to assist but keep in mind that everyone’s grieving is unique. Some of your ideas and suggestions may be useful, while others may not. If you’re not sure how to help a grieving person, ask them to tell you what they need or want. Simply letting them know that you care and want to assist them can be quite comforting or you should seek professional Bereavement Support.
In The First Few Days After A Death, How May You Assist A Bereaved Person?
The following are some suggestions about how to support a bereaved person in the first few days:
- As soon as possible following the death of a loved one, contact the bereaved person. A physical visit, phone call, text message, sympathy card or flowers could be used to make this contact.
- If you are able, attend the funeral or memorial service. They need to understand that you care about them at all to be there for them through this difficult moment.
- Offer your assistance and inquire as to how they would like you to assist them.
Grief Isn’t Something You Can ‘Fix’
When we are aware that someone is distressed, it is natural desire to help them. The reality is that you can’t ‘repair’ someone’s sadness after they’ve lost a loved one. There are no words that can make a bereaved person feel better about their loss but there are things you can do to offer comfort and support during this tough time.
Listen With Compassion To A Bereaved Person
The most valuable assistance you can provide is an open ear. Allow the individual who has lost a loved one to talk and express their sadness in any way they need. This could involve crying, shouting, screaming, laughing, expressing remorse or regret or even indulging in stress-relieving hobbies like walking or gardening.
Consider the following:
Concentrate your efforts on paying attention and listening with compassion.
- Allow them to grieve in their own way because everyone’s grief is different. Don’t pass judgement or disagree with their reactions to the death of a loved one. Criticizing how they express their grief is unpleasant and it may discourage them from sharing their thoughts and feelings with you.
- Don’t force them to speak if they don’t want to. Remember that simply being present can help someone feel better and sitting together in silence can also be beneficial.
- Don’t underestimate the value of human contact. Holding the person’s hand or hug them might be comforting but make sure it’s okay with them first.
Practical Help For A Grieving Person
You can demonstrate your concern for the bereaved individual by providing practical assistance, such as:
- Help them with some of their housekeeping, such as cleaning or laundry.
- For them, pick up the phone.
- Bring over ready-to-eat meals that simply need to be reheated before being served.
- Assume some of their usual responsibilities, such as picking up the kids from school.
- Be aware that they may not want you to help them in this way and you should respect their wishes.
Approaches To Avoid With A Bereaved Person
Approaches to stay away from include:
- Rather than listening to them, you tell them about your grief experience.
- Comparing their grief to yours or others’
- Explaining the ‘stages of grieving’ and implying that they aren’t progressing through them rapidly enough
- Providing them with unsolicited suggestions on how to cope with their loss
- Trying to persuade someone of how they should or shouldn’t feel.
Grief Over Time
Grief is a journey, not a one-time occurrence. It has no set schedule and it is not uncommon for grief to last for months, years or even decades after a person have died.
Consider the following:
After the funeral, don’t avoid the bereaved person. Keep in touch, even if it’s only via phone.
Never advise that they should ‘get over it’ and go on with their lives. Recognize that the person may grieve in subtle ways for the rest of their lives.
If the issue of the departed person naturally comes up in conversation, don’t shift the subject. The bereaved person requires assurance that their loved one will not be forgotten. In discussion, use the deceased person’s name. Use words like he or she carefully.
Remember that there will be days during the year that are particularly tough for the person to endure, like as anniversaries, big celebrations and the deceased person’s birthday. Be aware of these circumstances and provide your Bereavement Support then as well.
Bereavement Counselling For Grief
Bereavement support services offer bereaved people, children and families counselling, support and education. The ability to speak things through with another person, such as a skilled counsellor, can assist you in making sense of your emotions.
Counselors can provide you with support, encouragement and counsel while you go through the grieving process. They won’t tell you what to do or how to feel but they might offer suggestions and techniques to help you manage.
Everyone grieves differently and what works for one person may not work for another, so finding the correct path for each individual is crucial.
We usually find that people avoid talking about bereavement because they don’t know what and how to say, don’t want to aggravate the situation or it hurts too much. For people who have lost someone close to them, they know the real importance of Bereavement Support.
Grief can be tough for some people. Grief can have a profound and long-term impact on a bereaved person’s life. Those who struggle to grieve or put their feelings away may experience health and relationship concerns in later years as a result of their loss. Others who have thoroughly grieved over a loved one may realize that they can have hope and optimism for the future.
It’s not about moving on or forgetting them; it’s about finding a way to remember them without feeling guilty about going on with your life.
The reason that bereavement support is so important is that if we can find a way to truly be with the loss of a loved one, to feel the grief of that loss, it allows us to value and think about that person while continuing to live life fully.
How Does Bereavement Support Work?
Some people come for a single session; others come on a weekly, fortnightly or on monthly basis; and yet others come in as needed. There are no set guidelines for how frequently you should attend counselling. You and your counsellor will talk about what arrangements might be the most beneficial.
Bereavement counselling can help you with the following:
- Recognize, comprehend and communicate your emotions.
- Make use of your own resources and coping mechanisms.
- Find out more about the grieving process and what to expect.
- Have a chance to speak about the individual who has passed away.
- Recognize the nature of your grief and how it affects you.
- In the absence of the deceased individual, adjust to a new life.
- Consult a compassionate, nonjudgmental professional about your concerns.
Getting Professional Help
Bereavement counselling is a unique form of professional support. Hospice services or a referral from a health care practitioner may be able to help you discover it. This form of counselling has been demonstrated to lessen the level of grief experienced by grieving following the death of a loved one. It can support them in overcoming the stages of grieving. Counseling for bereavement might also assist them in adjusting to their new lives without the deceased.
When To Seek Further Help For Grief?
Despite the fact that bereavement is extremely painful, the majority of people (85 to 90%) find that with the help of their family and friends and their own resources, they can eventually learn to live with their loss and do not require professional assistance.
There are also bereavement support groups for relatives of persons who have committed suicide, homicide victims and people who have been traumatized by automobile accidents. Specialist services are sometimes formed in the aftermath of a traumatic event or disaster, such as a blaze or flood.
However, the circumstances of the death, such as a traumatic, sudden or unexpected death or circumstances that make the sorrow particularly acute or difficult, may have been exceptionally devastating. If your friend or relative appears to be struggling to handle their day-to-day lives, recommend that they seek professional treatment.
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.