(HealthNewsDigest.com) – ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 17, 2011 — For many people, the holiday season is a special time of year marked by celebrations and gatherings with family and friends. For those struggling with the death of a loved one, the holidays may be a difficult time full of painful reminders that emphasize their sense of loss.
Often, friends and family members of those affected by a loss are unsure how to act or what to say to support their grieving loved one during the holidays.
Hospice professionals, who are experienced at helping people deal with grief and loss, offer some suggestions:
1. Be supportive of the way the person chooses to handle the holidays. Some
may wish to follow traditions; others may choose to avoid customs of the
past and do something new. It’s okay to do things differently.
2. Offer to help the person with decorating or holiday baking. Both tasks
can be overwhelming for someone who is grieving.
3. Offer to help with holiday shopping. Share catalogs or online shopping
sites that may be helpful.
4. Invite the person to join you or your family during the holidays. You
might invite them to join you for a religious service or at a holiday
meal where they are a guest.
5. Ask the person if he or she is interested in volunteering with you during
the holidays. Doing something for someone else, such as helping at a soup
kitchen or working with children, may help your loved one feel better
about the holidays.
6. Donate a gift or money in memory of the person’s loved one. Remind the
person that his or her loved one is not forgotten.
7. Never tell someone that he or she should be “over it.” Instead, give the
person hope that, eventually, he or she will enjoy the holidays again.
8. Be willing to listen. Active listening from friends and family is an
important step to helping some cope with grief and heal.
9. Remind the person you are thinking of him or her and the loved one who
died. Cards, phone calls and visits are great ways to stay in touch.
In general, the best way to help those who are grieving during the holidays is to let them know you care and that their loved one is not forgotten.
Many people are not aware that their community hospice is a valuable resource that can help people who are struggling with grief and loss.
More information about grief or hospice is available from NHPCO’s Caring Connections, www.caringinfo.org.
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
Web Site: http://www.nhpco.org
###
For advertising and promotion on HealthNewsDigest.com please contact Mike McCurdy: [email protected] or 877-634-9180
HealthNewsDigest.com is syndicated worldwide and has over 7,000 journalists as subscribers.