Death is a natural occurrence, but that doesn’t make grieving for a loved one any less difficult. Seniors who experience the loss of a spouse, usually their life partner of more than 20 years, will inevitably experience difficulty. It’s crucial for caregivers to step up, acknowledge their emotions, and assist them in grieving. A senior can cope with the loss and get back on their feet much more easily if they have social support from the team at their retirement community as well as from other residents. Here’s how the environment of a senior living community in Jefferson, LA, can help seniors overcome the loss of their spouse.
How Seniors Feel When Losing a Spouse
Although grieving is typically described as occurring in phases, many psychologists contend that we actually experience mood changes that occur suddenly. The frequency and severity of these will gradually decrease until a certain point of emotional adjustment has been attained. Be prepared for them to struggle with eating, sleeping, and concentration. Additionally, it’s probable that they’ll struggle to make choices.
They’re likely to cry easily and experience the following feelings:
- Depression
- Fatigues
- Numbness
- Shock
- Fear
- Guilt for being the one who’s still alive
- Disbelief or denial.
They may experience any of these emotions one after another or even simultaneously. So, it is important that they receive attentive care to manage their emotions as they arise.
Care Administered to Grieving Seniors in Retirement Communities
The first way in which retirement communities help seniors cope with the loss of a loved one is by lending a listening ear.
Make time to listen to your aging parents talk because seniors tend to like talking, regardless of the reason for their sorrows. Talking it out is frequently the best way for them to achieve mental clarity about the entire situation. Most of the time, all they want is someone to listen without giving them any suggestions, opinions, or other input. Our team is trained to listen to them speak and hear out their concerns whenever they seem down or distressed.
Moreover, given that a loss of appetite may follow the loss of a loved one, having a fixed dining plan prevents their physical condition from deteriorating too much as a result of the situation. They can have meals prepared for them and eat at fixed times to ensure that they are keeping up with their nutritional needs.
Tapping into our community’s Dimensions Health & Wellness program will also help your senior loved one receive the emotional support they need following the loss of their spouse.
Lastly, frequent interaction with others in the community will help them realize that they are not alone in their experience. In fact, hearing about the experiences and advice of other seniors in the community who have also lost their spouses will help them cope better and give them the encouragement they need to continue living their lives. They can even form an informal support group through these interactions, and bond over the games and activities available in the community.
Many seniors who lose their loved ones retreat into social isolation, which causes a myriad of issues like depression or physical deterioration. If you’re concerned about a parent or loved one who has recently lost their spouse, consider relocating them to a vibrant and supportive retirement community today!
