Many families aren’t aware that hospice care is there for the person who has reached the end of life, but also for the family members who love that person. Every person touches so many other people during their life, no matter how long or short that life is. And when someone passes away, family members and friends may not know how to deal with those complicated emotions. Hospice can still help during that difficult time.
Remember the Person Who Passed Away
Sometimes people who are grieving try to put the person they’ve lost out of their minds. It can seem easier at first to try to forget, in hopes that it will dull the pain of loss. But it’s important to keep the memory of that person alive as much as possible. Sharing stories with other family members, looking through photo albums, and looking for other ways to preserve memories can be important steps to take.
Find Someone to Talk To
It helps so much to find someone to talk to when grief is a constant companion. That might mean finding a therapist, joining a support group, or even just talking with a friend who understands. Hospice teams can help families to find the support that they need in order to manage their grief. The grieving process often begins before the person passes away, so it might be a good idea to find help with anticipatory grief and learn how that shifts once the inevitable does finally happen.
Journal, Cry, or Find Another Way to Express Feelings
There are a lot of different ways to express difficult feelings like grief. People often cry because of grief, and that’s something that is perfectly normal and okay to do. Ignoring the feelings and trying not to cry, no matter what, is far unhealthier an option. Some people find it easier to express feelings in written form, so journaling might work. Releasing those emotions is the most important step to take because it allows people to move forward, through the grief and to the other side.
Take Care of Physical Needs
Something that people often forget during times of grief is to take care of physical needs. They forget to sleep, eat terribly if they eat at all, and might even stop moving as much as they normally do. This can be a normal response to grief and loss, but it’s not a healthy one. It’s important for grieving family members to continue to take the best possible care of themselves. Drinking water, eating healthy foods, getting good sleep, and getting some exercise can all help with processing difficult feelings. It also helps to ensure that no one starts to experience a physical health crisis in the midst of an emotional crisis.
No one has to work through grief alone. Hospice care services can be there for family members who need help processing their feelings of loss and grief. Over time, the feelings never really go away, but they can lessen and feel less acute.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hospice care in San Diego, CA please contact the caring staff at A Passion for Care today. Call (858) 798-5005
A Passion for Care is a Trusted Home Care Agency serving San Diego, La Jolla, Del Mar, Rancho Bernardo, Encinitas, Oceanside, Rancho Santa Fe, Point Loma, and surrounding areas.
Making the transition to a completely new industry brought the opportunity to learn and grow, which continues still today. Pat studied Gerontology in San Diego State University’s certificate program and became licensed as a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA), a Home Health Aide (HHA), and completed the California Certification Program for Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCCFE) as a Certified Administrator. She presented workshops at Aging in America Conference four years in a row and served as Chair of the San Diego Regional Home Care Council 2019-2020 and was the education board member for several years. More recently, Pat became a Certified Senior Advisor and was a San Diego Business Journal “50 over 50 2022 Women of Influence Honoree”.
Pat and her husband Roland have lived outside San Diego in the San Pasqual Valley for over three decades. She has two children who are grown professionals and three grandchildren. Pat enjoys traveling to, and visits from, family and friends throughout the year. While at home in San Pasqual Valley, she and Roland enjoy peaceful views and exploring the surrounding valleys.
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