Watching a loved one pass away is hard, and grieving alone is even harder. Grief can affect all people differently, mentally, physically, and spiritually. At Maxcare Hospice, we offer dedicated bereavement services to families to help them cope with their loss.
Common Feelings of Bereavement
While grieving can look different for each person, there are some feelings that you may experience after losing a loved one:
- Feelings of guilt
- Feelings of anger
- Difficulty accepting the loss
- Trouble sleeping
- Loss of appetite
- Unable to focus or concentrate
- Changes in appetite
- Crying often
These feelings are normal, and with help from a bereavement counselor, over time, they will get better as you go through the stages of grief.
The Stages of Grief
Each person’s grief timeline will be different. Some people may drive for six months and up to a year, while others may drive for longer than this. Regardless of the timeline, there are five stages of grief that a person must work through.
- Denial: This is the first stage, where it is difficult to accept that a loved one is truly gone
- Anger: This anger can be aimed at the loved one who passed away, at others, and even at oneself
- Bargaining: Making “what if” bargains with a higher power they believe in
- Depression: This includes feelings of hopelessness and deep sadness
- Acceptance: This is the final stage, and now they’re able to think about their good memories of their deceased loved one
Bereavement services can help family members work through the different stages of grief with coping strategies.
Key Benefits of The Bereavement Healing Process
Our bereavement services at Maxcare Hospice have one goal: to provide family members with the tools and guidance to navigate their emotions during a difficult time. There are three key benefits of bereavement services in hospice: emotional support, coping strategies, and understanding what grief is.
Bereavement counselors can provide emotional support by creating a safe space for families to express their emotions, offering comfort, and validating their feelings. Knowing how to manage grief is important, and bereavement counselors can teach families coping strategies tailored to their needs. At Maxcare Hospice, we educate families on the different stages of grief, what they can expect, and how to cope with their families.
