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Senior Care in Houston, TX: Handling the Loss of a Spouse

Providing senior care for an aging loved one brings up many difficult situations, but one of the hardest will be helping your aging loved one work through the death of her spouse. It is likely that it your aging loved one spent decades with this person, and adapting to life without him will be incredibly difficult. Beyond just the grief of losing the person who she loved the most, there will also be simple logistics to get used to. Many people who lose their spouses find themselves having difficulty making decisions or getting used to preparing meals, doing laundry or shopping for just themselves. As a senior care provider, you can make a tremendous difference in this incredibly difficult time for your loved one.

Senior Care in Houston, TXProviding senior care services for an aging loved one is more than just making sure that her physical and medical needs are addressed on a daily basis. You must also keep her psychological and emotional health in mind, and help her adjust to the new realities of life as a widow.

Here are some tips for helping your aging loved one get through the loss of a spouse in the best way possible:

  • Encourage your aging loved one to fulfill any wishes that her spouse expressed prior to dying. This will give her peace of mind and help her to move forward
  • Reassure your loved one it will take time before she is able to feel “normal” again, and let her know that you will be patient with her and help her progress through her grief
  • Help your aging loved one understand that when it comes to grief, there is often a roller coaster of emotion. She is likely to experience anger, sadness and then feelings of recovery in frequent waves
  • Encourage your aging loved one to ignore anyone who criticizes her for the way that she is grieving. Each person approaches the loss of the spouse differently and it is important that you offer support rather than judging your loved one for the speed at which she is moving through her grief. Of course, if you feel that your aging loved one is depressed, despondent or at risk, address this problem and help her to find the professional help that she needs to overcome these difficult emotions and begin to move forward.

If you have a loved one who could benefit from the help of senior care in Houston, TX contact the caregivers at At Your Side Home Care. We help seniors and their families with many levels of home care service. Call (832) 271-1600 for more information.

Donna Wrabel, LMSW

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