Beating grief with seniors’ support by your side

SPONSORED — The loss of a loved one is an experience that is not taken well by most individuals. Owing to the attachment of emotions, loss can lead to a lot of negative feelings. These feelings, if not managed in the proper manner, can lead to psychological or physical health complications. In the case of seniors, the loss of a loved one is an emotional situation that may initiate sequences of psychological trauma, hence resulting in serious health complications. Grieving may take longer than expected and, if unchecked, could cause psychological problems.

Due to the greater number of risk factors affecting grieving seniors, mental health support workers have a duty to provide specialised care to help them overcome their loss. They are charged with caring for these bereaved seniors both emotionally and physically. 

Grieving in seniors 

According to research,  the prevalence of prolonged grief may be as high as 20 percent in adults over the age of 65 years, due to their frequent exposure to grief and loss. Grief is a delicate matter when it concerns seniors. Having experienced many losses throughout the years, you never know which one would be too much for them to bear.

A person may lose their spouse, children, friends, independence or health. Sometimes, it’s the least expected things that throw seniors into waves of grief that, if unchecked, could put them in grave danger.

These losses have both emotional and psychological impacts on seniors. It could lead to sleeping disorders, a change in appetite and a loss of interest in everything. Depression and suicidal thoughts may set in as well.

If these and many other symptoms persist over a year, the senior is said to be experiencing ‘complicated grieving’ or ‘prolonged grieving disorder.’ Seniors who suffer from complicated grieving need cognitive therapy to cope with the condition.

Recognising the signs of mental illness in grieving seniors 

There is a significant overlap between mentally ill health and prolonged grieving in older people. Both can share similar symptoms and, frankly, it can be difficult to differentiate them. However, as a mental health support worker, you need to be confident in making the distinction between the two to ensure early intervention. Common symptoms of mental illness in grieving seniors include:

• prolonged sadness and lack of interest;
• memory loss;
• suicidal thoughts and tendencies to self-harm;
• change in appetite;
• neglecting personal hygiene;
• being aggressive;
• sleeping disorders; 
• increased anxiety or stress; and
• lack of social enthusiasm.

To confirm that these signs signify mental illness and not just grief, you have to work with other mental healthcare providers to confirm your suspicions. Once confirmed, seek help immediately to avoid any further deterioration.

The role of mental health support workers

A mental health support worker assists individuals with mental health issues through care and support. In this context, mental health support workers are people who help seniors cope with losses through emotional and physical support.

As a mental health support worker taking care of a senior, you are charged with the following responsibilities:

Emotional and physical support

The most important help you can offer a bereaved senior is a willing ear. No interruptions — just sit and listen to them as they pour out their heart. They may cry, laugh or have angry outbursts. You have to be accommodating to all forms of emotional expression as this helps them feel better to get it off their chest.

Grieving seniors, especially ones in the prolonged grieving stage, need help with navigating their day-to-day life. So, you have the duty of assisting them with personal hygiene, mobility, household tasks and healthcare appointments.

Assessment and monitoring

You have the duty of identifying any signs of depression, anxiety, sleep disorder or any other signs of complicated grieving. Once any of these mood disorders is noticed, you are to monitor the care receiver and take necessary measures to ensure it doesn’t get any worse.

Resource connection

As a support worker, you have the responsibility of connecting seniors to support groups, therapy groups and other relevant community programs.

Enlightenment

You’re also tasked with educating the seniors and their families about the grieving process and the necessary coping steps to adopt.

Effective strategies for supporting grieving seniors

Below, we’ve listed some effective ways to support grieving seniors as a mental health support worker.

• Individual and Group Therapy Sessions

Therapy is a key coping mechanism for grieving seniors. It allows them to express themselves and listen to other people with similar life experiences.

• Encouraging physical activities

Physical activities like regular exercise, yoga, knitting, pottery, painting, etc, help keep seniors busy and distracted from their grief. 

• Encouraging social engagement

Loneliness is one of the greatest driving forces of extended grief. You can counter this by helping the senior engage with peers, family, and the general community. This fosters a sense of belonging and renewed hope for living.

• Having a routine 

One of the things that loss takes away from seniors is their ability to coordinate their day-to-day life activities. This leaves them in a confused and helpless situation. As a support worker, you can draft a daily routine for the seniors and help them follow through with it. Gradually, it will help them regain independence and boost their confidence. 

Family and community involvement
The family of a grieving senior determines, to a large extent, how long it would take for them to recover. Their support, care, encouragement and collaboration with support workers facilitates the healing process, along with the community. By giving the seniors a sense of belonging, they help them to see reasons to be happy and let go of the past. 

One of your responsibilities as a support worker is to tell the family of your care recipient about the best approach to achieving better goals. You should also allow them to join a support group where they can get in touch with community members. This also includes collaborating with other healthcare providers and caregivers to find the best way to help your care receiver.

Challenges associated with being a mental health support worker
Support workers may face a series of challenges in helping a care recipient and/or their family deal with grief. 

• The stigma around mental health

The societal view towards mental healthcare can be a challenge to support workers. Some seniors may be evasive in seeking support or opening up to support workers so they don’t appear weak. This interferes with the effort of the support worker, prolonging the healing process.

• Limited access to resources

In some places, like rural areas, it may be difficult to find support or therapy groups to help seniors with overcoming loss. This leaves the support worker to do everything alone; a less effective approach.

• Emotional demands of supporting grieving individuals

It is not an easy task to take care of seniors who have lost a loved one. It may take an unexpected toll on you emotionally. As a support worker, you ought to be physically and emotionally prepared to cope with their emotional outbursts.

Conclusion

Prolonged grieving in old age can result in serious psychological disorders if not well managed. You have to be dedicated and emotionally equipped in order to perform your duties well as a mental health support worker. By adopting strategic coping mechanisms, you can help seniors overcome loss and live a normal life. 

Contact Support Network if you’re looking for a Mental Health Support Worker. 

Do you have any experience dealing with a senior experiencing grief? Let the team at Talking Aged Care know your thoughts and subscribe to the newsletter for more information, news and industry updates.

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