Understanding loss, grief and bereavement l By Amanda Clarke l - PDF document

l l l l l l l l Module 3 Module 3 Understanding loss, grief Advance Care Planning: and bereavement; Supporting Handout Booklet Handout ourselves and others What it means and how to do it l l Page Section Page Powerpoint presentations 1 Powerpoint presentations Refmections on Module 2 2 Powerpoint presentation Slide 1 Powerpoint presentation Slide 1 3 Section Understanding loss, grief and bereavement; Understanding loss, grief and bereavement 2 Module Supporting ourselves and others l l Understanding loss, grief and bereavement l By Amanda Clarke l a.e.clarke@abdn.ac.uk and Jane Seymour l jane.seymour@nottingham.ac.uk l Powerpoint presentation Slide 2 Powerpoint presentation Slide 2 3 Section Understanding loss, grief and bereavement; 2 Module Aims of this section Understanding loss, grief and berea Supporting ourselves and others l l l Aims of this section are to: ● Provide an overview of the main issues relating to l l l bereavement, loss and grief ● Refmect on our own ideas and experiences about these and to l l l think about how to support ourselves ● Think about ways to support people who have been bereaved l l l l l l l

Module 3 Module 3 Understanding loss, grief Advance Care Planning: Handout and bereavement; Supporting Booklet What it means and how to do it ourselves and others Page Section Powerpoint presentations 2 Introductions and practical information 1 Powerpoint presentation Slide 3 Powerpoint presentation Slide 2 3 Section Understanding loss, grief and bereavement; Loss by death: a universal experience 2 Module Understanding loss, grief and berea Supporting ourselves and others l Loss by death: a universal experience ● “All of us are born to die, that’s the only way to look at it. I don’t l think there’s anything wrong in thinking about it, it’s the way l you look at it. As I say, we are born to die, so enjoy life. Every l day’s a blessing, that’s the way you’ve got to live.” l l (Peter White, research participant, aged 72) l l Powerpoint presentation Slide 4 Powerpoint presentation Slide 2 3 Section Understanding loss, grief and bereavement; 2 Module Grief Understanding loss, grief and berea Supporting ourselves and others Grief l l Grief is an emotional and physical reaction to loss: ● Loss by death l l ● Loss through ill health l l ● Loss of part of ourselves ● Loss of something we value l l l l l l

Module 3 Module 3 Understanding loss, grief Advance Care Planning: and bereavement; Supporting Handout Booklet What it means and how to do it ourselves and others Page Section Powerpoint presentations 3 Refmections on Module 2 2 Powerpoint presentation Slide 5 Powerpoint presentation Slide 2 3 Section Understanding loss, grief and bereavement; Responses to grief 2 Module Understanding loss, grief and berea Supporting ourselves and others Responses to Grief l In the specialist literature a range of human responses to grief are described. These all overlap: l ● Emotional ● Physical l ● Behavioural l l ● Psychological l l l Powerpoint presentation Slide 6 Powerpoint presentation Slide 2 3 Section Understanding loss, grief and bereavement; 2 Module Eight myths about grief Understanding loss, grief and berea Supporting ourselves and others Shattering Eight ‘myths’ about grief l l ● Myth 1 : We only grieve deaths Reality : We grieve all losses ● Myth 2 : Only family members grieve l l Reality : All who are attached grieve ● Myth 3 : Grief is an emotional reaction l l Reality : Grief is manifested in many ways ● Myth 4 : Individuals should leave grieving at home l l Reality : We cannot control where we grieve l l l l

Module 3 Module 3 Understanding loss, grief Advance Care Planning: Handout and bereavement; Supporting Booklet What it means and how to do it ourselves and others Page Section Powerpoint presentations 4 Introductions and practical information 1 Powerpoint presentation Slide 7 Powerpoint presentation Slide 2 3 Section Understanding loss, grief and bereavement; 2 Module Eight myths about grief Understanding loss, grief and berea Supporting ourselves and others Shattering Eight ‘myths’ about grief l ● Myth 5 : We slowly and predictably recover from grief Reality : Grief is an uneven process, a roller coaster with no time line ● Myth 6 : Grieving means letting go of the person who has died l Reality : We never fully detach l ● Myth 7 : Grief fjnally ends l l Reality : Over time most people learn to live with loss l ● Myth 8 : Grievers are best left alone l Reality : Grievers need opportunities to share their memories l and grief, and to receive support Powerpoint presentation Slide 8 Powerpoint presentation Slide 2 3 Section Understanding loss, grief and bereavement; Module Bereavement support 2 Understanding loss, grief and berea Supporting ourselves and others Bereavement Support l l ● Sometimes, it feels diffjcult to talk or to communicate with people who are grieving l l ● Just to ‘be with’ the person can be experienced by them as deeply supportive l l ● Each person’s story is different and unique so there in no one ‘right’ way to support each person’s grieving l l l l l l

Module 3 Module 3 Understanding loss, grief Advance Care Planning: and bereavement; Supporting Handout Booklet What it means and how to do it ourselves and others Page Section Powerpoint presentations 5 Refmections on Module 2 2 Powerpoint presentation Slide 9 Powerpoint presentation Slide 2 3 Section Understanding loss, grief and bereavement; 2 Module Encouraging discussion about death Understanding loss, grief and berea Supporting ourselves and others Encouraging discussion about death ● Many bereaved people want to talk l ● Don’t worry about fjnding the ‘right’ words – simply listen ● You don’t need to make suggestions l ● Showing emotion is not a sign of weakness l ● Feeling sad and expressing emotion often comes when it is least expected l ● Open discussion about spiritual / cultural belief is important for l some people l ● Ritual is important to some people l l Powerpoint presentation Slide 10 Powerpoint presentation Slide 2 3 Section Understanding loss, grief and bereavement; Module Summary 2 Understanding loss, grief and berea Supporting ourselves and others Summary ● Grief reactions can encompass changes which affect our whole l l selves ● Bereavement can impact on health l l ● There is no right or wrong way to experience bereavement ● Being aware of some of the reactions expressed by someone l l grieving can help to identify when further help is needed ● Don’t worry about fjnding the ‘right’ things to say – simply listen l l l l l l