7 Ways to Help a Parent Who Has Lost a Spouse
Bereavement can have a devastating impact on the immune systems of seniors, and may explain why many older spouses soon die after the loss of their loved ones. Studies show that one reason is that a type of white blood cell, the neutrophil, can be weakened.
Here are a few ways to help grieving parents:
But in the past decade, social scientists with unprecedented access to large groups of widows and widowers have uncovered five surprising truths about losing a spouse. We oscillate. For years, we've been told that grief comes in five stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.
Ways you can help an older adult who is grieving include:
1 cause of death of a bereaved spouse is heart disease and sudden death, meaning the heart stops,” reported NBCNews.com, quoting internist Dr. Lee Lipsenthal. (Lipsenthal has since passed away himself.) It's been called “broken heart syndrome,” the colloquial term for takotsubo cardiomyopathy.
You'll never “get over” the loss of your loved one, but the painful feelings you're experiencing will lessen as you accept the loss. While you're often distracted initially by these painful feelings, there is much to learn from the loss of a loved one—such as just how beautiful life and love are.
The 7 stages of grief
Helping your partner keep the memory of their parent alive is helpful to the grieving process. Telling stories, reminiscing and sharing fond memories of that parent is important. Looking at pictures and videos and sharing rituals such as lighting a candle on their parent's death day can also be helpful.
Bereaved Mother's Day is an opportunity for moms grieving for their children to be open about all they've endured. ... Women who lost a baby and do not have living children can be recognized for the mother's that they are, even without their babies in their arms. The day is a celebration and a memorial.
Grief increases inflammation, which can worsen health problems you already have and cause new ones. It batters the immune system, leaving you depleted and vulnerable to infection. The heartbreak of grief can increase blood pressure and the risk of blood clots.
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There is no set timetable for grief. You may start to feel better in 6 to 8 weeks, but the whole process can last anywhere from 6 months to 4 years.
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