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.

Providing 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.

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Donna Wrabel, LMSW

Co-Owner at At Your Side Home Care

For most of us, the word "home" evokes warm feelings of comfort, security and well-being. For older adults, home also means holding tight to cherished memories and maintaining self-esteem and independence. When illness, injury or age make life a little more challenging, remaining at home in a comfortable, familiar environment encourages recovery and enhances the quality of life. Home can be defined as a private residence, an independent or assisted living facility or even a short term stay in the hospital, we recognize the additional benefits provided by a personal, professional assistant.

Our Certified Nurse Aides, 24-Hour Live-in Assistants and Home Health Aides are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We also provide the security and confidence of 24-hour Telephone Assistance, so fast, reliable help is always available when it's needed. To learn more about our homecare services see our homecare services page.

Different people need different levels of homecare. To meet the requirements of our clients, At Your Side Homecare maintains consistent staffing levels of caring professionals. Homecare service is available for as little as a few hours a week, or as many as 24 hours a day, seven days a week

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