One of the most challenging things a senior would experience is the loss of their spouse. When this happens, it’s natural for friends and family members to offer support and comfort. However, you have to understand that grieving is done differently by everyone. With this in mind, here are some tips to keep in mind if you want to understand a senior’s needs and comfort them properly.
Understand that grieving takes time
There’s a reason why people are getting Memorial wind chimes as a means to cope with grief. It takes time, and during that time, the grieving person will most likely go through varying emotions to truly understand the situation. After which, acceptance will follow.
Avoid asking too many questions
If someone is grieving, there is a high chance that they may find it difficult to make decisions, even small ones like deciding what to eat for dinner. In this case, make sure to be extra sensitive with the questions that you ask.
Keep an eye out for signs of depression
During the grieving period, they may go through varying emotions like shock, denial, anger, and sadness. While these are normally felt during the grieving period, it’s important to watch out for signs that their grief has turned into depression. In this case, make sure to seek professional help.
Hold off on any major life changes
There are a lot of things that can overwhelm someone who is grieving. If you have a loved one who recently lost their spouse, make sure to hold off any big (or small) life changes. This may include moving into a new home or giving away the deceased spouse’s belongings.
Watch out for any grief triggers
One of the reasons why memorial wind chimes and other memorial items help people who are grieving is because it serves as a reminder that there are friends and family who are there to help them when needed. This is a great way to avoid any grief triggers as well.
Offer tangible assistance
Anyone who is experiencing grief may not realize it at first but they truly appreciate tangible assistance from you. If you can offer this, do so. Tangible assistance may include yard work, baking, cooking, running errands, grocery shopping, and taking out the garbage.
Show up
Lastly, if there’s one thing you should remember is that sometimes, people who go through grief will not ask you anything. This does not mean that you should not offer to do it. Thus, even if your parent has not asked you to show up, be there for them. They will be grateful that you did.
Aside from all of the ways to comfort a senior grieving that has been mentioned above, make sure to send them a message that you’re there for them should they need you. You can send a short but sweet message or gift them memorial wind chimes. Nonetheless, they will truly appreciate you for it.
