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Every human being feels grief and sadness when they lose someone, but a grieving caregiver is something that needs special attention.

Being a grieving caregiver does come with a lot of emotional burdens. This type of grief can hurt as much as any other person feels when their loved ones die. Sometimes, it may make the loss easier, but the exempting factor is that it’s real. No one can ignore it, and no one has to. So, if you’re a caregiver reading this, allow yourself to process the grief while still appreciating the time you spent with the patient.

A caregiver’s journey is nothing short of a pleasant one. Even though the person they’ve been caring for is still alive, there’s this hovering feeling of pain and loss. That feeling is called Anticipatory Grief, a distinct form of grieving common among caregivers. A grieving caregiver would naturally feel this way, especially when they’re in charge of the senior’s end-of-life care. Moreover, they’re also the ones who most frequently encounter people with long-term or incurable illnesses.

Ways to Support a Grieving Caregiver

Death and grief will eventually touch everyone at some point in life. As part of the normal cycle of living, everyone will surely meet their end. However, for caregivers, the stress and emotions that come with losing a person they once cared for is hard. If you’re looking for ways to start supporting a grieving caregiver, Eleanor’s guide book for caregivers One Caregiver’s Journey, will help you. In addition, ask yourself these questions before you reach out to your caregiver.

What do you do in these instances when a grieving caregiver needs your support?

How can you best help and listen to what they need?

Empathize Without Overstepping

Whether you are a caregiver or not, avoid saying you know what they’re going through. Feelings of loss are different for everyone, and a grieving caregiver often feels guilty about many things. At the same time, they might feel relief that it’s over, but they all feel a complicated mix of emotions at once. As someone looking outside in, your presence is often appreciated. But there might be times when they need to be alone to process things, and we should respect that.

A grieving caregiver must be reminded that these feelings are normal and expected. Caring for a loved one or ailing stranger is exhausting enough. But when the duty ends, time also doesn’t stop for them.

Acts of Service for Caregivers

Among the love languages, acts of service may not involve words, but they’re undeniably powerful demonstrations. You may look for ways to fill their day with positive memories, helping them get back on their feet at an acceptable pace. Additionally, caregivers traditionally haven’t had enough sleep or proper meals, so they’d appreciate it if you ensured they’re nourished and well-rested.

Your days might be much different than an average day for caregivers. More often than not, they find it hard to stay grounded and connected to the previous life they’ve built. Therefore, reaching out to them to spend time together is good. Ask them what physical activity you can help them with. It could be picking up groceries, going to a doctor’s appointment, or just sitting in silence. However, you choose to do it, doing things for them already means a lot. They might feel encouraged to overcome that grief, especially when they have someone they can share it with.

It’s important that you spend time with them, even if it’s something as simple as an afternoon in the park. Doing mundane activities will help lift a grieving caregiver’s spirits. Moreover, a spark of hope will blossom as they will have something to hold onto, even when the person they cared for is gone.

Coping with Grief as A Caregiver

Professional caregivers spend more time with other people than their own families, to the point that the people they care for become their own. That’s why it hits hard when that person dies, and the grieving caregiver is left alone to process everything all at once.

Loss is something that no one will ever understand, even if it happens to all. As if it’s complicated enough, there’s a hole in one’s heart that can never be replaced or filled for a long time. If you’re a caregiver who needs this comfort the most, grab a copy of One Caregiver’s Journey by Eleanor Gaccetta today. It is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Google Books or her website www.onecaregiversjourney.com.

And remember, grief is absolutely normal. Being human is grieving over what one has lost but treasured immensely. Always remember that.

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