A big question that caregivers and family members may find themselves asking is how they can grieve properly. The definition for that is difficult to pin down because there really isn’t one specific way in which every person should express their grief after a loss.
You’ll Experience a Mix of Emotions
One of the first problems you might encounter with grief can be that you experience a range of emotions beyond just grief and sadness. You might be angry that your family member is gone. You might also have moments in which you’re relieved and happy that she’s no longer in pain. You might also laugh remembering certain stories and memories.
It Takes as Long as it Takes
There’s a sense that family members should only grieve for a certain amount of time. That’s not realistic, though. Grieving is going to take as long as it takes, and if that’s longer or shorter for you, that’s still okay. In fact, during your time as a caregiver you have likely spent some time dealing with anticipatory grief. This might make the time you spend grieving after your senior family member passes away look shorter than it is for other people who love her.
You Might Cry, or You Might Not
Lots of people equate grieving with shedding tears. Some people just don’t cry easily, though, and if that describes you, you might worry that you’re not expressing your grief properly if you’re not crying. On the other hand, you might find yourself overwhelmed by tears that you just can’t control. That’s okay, too.
It Isn’t Bad to Need Some Extra Support
There’s nothing wrong at all with needing some extra emotional and practical support during this time. grief can steal your ability to think clearly and leave you scrambling to determine what needs to happen next. You don’t have to do everything on your own. Let hospice elder care providers and other family members step in and help you with what needs to be done. Elder care providers can also help to point you in the right direction for help managing your grief.
Ultimately, there’s not really any right way to express your grief or to manage it. The biggest thing for you to know is that you don’t have to grieve alone and that you don’t have to follow a rule book. Get the help that you need so that you can heal.
If you or a loved-one are considering hospice elder care in Marietta, GA, please call the caring staff at Arcturus Hospice and Palliative Care today. Call 678-383-9973 today to speak to our care team.
Kate Gorinshteyn is the director of marketing at Arcturus Health Care. Arcturus is a fast-growing Hospice striving to provide the highest level of quality care to patients faced with life-limiting illnesses. Our goal is to make each patient as pain-free as possible and give physiological, emotional and spiritual support to both the patient and family. We understand that the decision change from curative to comfort care is difficult, and our team is trained to help you every step of the way!
We are proud to make a difference in the lives of those we serve.