Help Grieving Elders Cope with a Life without Their Spouse

Through Our Senior Companionship Facility

As the saying goes, there are two facts of life that one can’t evade: taxes and death. While we can chuckle at this truism, the reality is that death is inevitable. We all hope to live long, productive lives. We also want to grow old with grace, with all our faculties intact. Yet, as we age, many of our friends and family members may precede us in death, including our spouse. Dealing with the grief can be a challenge as you have to learn to handle all the tasks alone that you once did together. You also have to come to terms with your own mortality as well.

If you have a senior loved one who lost a spouse, here are a few things you can do to help them cope during this difficult time. At Home Instead Hamilton, we offer support to the elderly in many ways, including senior companionship and home help to ease the pain of loss and give  them new reasons to smile.

4 Ways to Comfort Your Grieving Senior

Aged family members seek your support and comfort during this time of life more than any other. Here are four ways to show them how much you care:

• Host a festive family dinner: Memorials and funerals are usually held soon after the deceased has passed. They can be depressing and somber. However, the pain of losing a spouse does not go away just because the funeral is over. Take time to celebrate the life and accomplishments of the departed, so that everyone can join in and revel in the memories.
• Allow them to grieve: Mourning is natural. Everyone grieves differently and at their own pace. Sometimes, all they need is a shoulder to cry on or a sympathetic ear. Try to spend time with seniors and share treasured stories of the loved one who passed. This is another gentle way to help your senior work through their grief.
• Check in on them regularly: Some seniors are able to work through the grieving process quickly. Others may take longer. Take time to check on your aged family member periodically, even after a good few weeks and months. If they continue to live independently for long, it might be a good decision to suggest a home helper, so they are not left alone.
• Hire help to keep them engaged: Losing a spouse is difficult. The survivor is at high risk of experiencing emotional lows like depression, anxiety and isolation. They should not have to spend too much time alone. While they may fear becoming a burden, encourage them to reach out to you. If necessary, hire someone to help your loved one with household tasks or offer companionship, even if it is only part-time.

Going through life after a spouse’s death is not easy; it takes time and patience to get used to being alone. Each senior mourns at a different pace and in different ways. A little companionship can help them pick up and move on with their life. At Home Instead Hamilton , we provide compassionate caregivers who can offer emotional and physical support to help them work through the grieving cycle.