At Interim HealthCare and Hospice of Lawrence, we understand that bereavement care is an essential component of hospice that includes anticipating grief reactions and providing ongoing support for the bereaved over a period of 13 months.
Bereavement is the period of grief and mourning after a death. When you grieve, it's part of the normal process of reacting to a loss. You may experience grief as a mental, physical, social or emotional reaction. Mental reactions can include anger, guilt, anxiety, sadness and despair. Physical reactions can include sleeping problems, changes in appetite, physical problems or illness.
How long bereavement lasts can depend on how close you were to the person who died, if the person's death was expected and other factors. Friends, family and faith may be sources of support. Grief counseling or grief therapy is also helpful to some people.
Each of us takes their own journey through grief and healing. Allow yourself to open up to the idea that not every person experiences and deals with the loss of a loved one in the same way.
As there are many cultural and or religious practices to help those facing loss, understand that there is no “one way” or “one plan” that can work for everybody.