One of the more difficult aspects of getting older is the prospect of friends passing away. Whether they’ve lost a longtime pal or a recent acquaintance, helping your loved one cope with their emotions is a crucial part of senior care. Here are a few ways to show your support and help your loved one heal.

How to Help a Grieving Loved One

1. Be There

Often, when someone is grieving, they don’t expect anyone to “fix” the situation. They simply want their loved ones to listen and be there while they process their emotions.

Don’t feel like you always need to respond when your loved one expresses themselves. Simply visiting them at their assisted living facility and offering a comforting hug will help them feel loved and supported.

2. Acknowledge Their Feelings

Everyone grieves differently. Ask your loved one how they feel, and accept what they tell you. Some common reactions to loss are fear, anger, and denial. Don’t try to tell them how they should feel, or assume that they should behave in a specific way. Focus on listening, and help them understand that any emotions during this difficult period are valid.

3. Offer Practical Support

Although your loved one will have support with meals and daily housekeeping in a senior care facility, you can still offer other practical forms of emotional support. Offer to attend memorial services or support groups with them, take them on fun family outings, or play their favorite games when you visit.

4. Let Them Reminisce

When someone loses a friend, they will likely be overwhelmed with memories. Encourage them to share stories with you. Look through photo albums together, or help your loved one make a scrapbook or album with photos that bring happy feelings. These activities will provide healthy outlets for expressing their emotions.

5. Encourage Them to Socialize

Losing friends can trigger depression in older adults, sometimes because it forces them to consider their own mortality. To help them avoid depressive feelings, encourage them to spend time with their other friends and participate in activities offered in their community. Not only will being social help them recover emotionally, but it will also provide benefits for cognition and physical health.

Being part of a welcoming community will help your loved one deal with all the challenges that come with life. Serving Montana’s Flathead County and the surrounding areas, BeeHive Homes of Columbia Falls provides a home-like setting where your loved one will be safe and welcomed. This family-owned senior care facility provides 24-hour compassionate staffing, delicious meals, and activities that encourage people to stay active, healthy, and social. Visit them online for a complete list of services, or call (406) 270-0513 to schedule a tour.