Baycrest - End of Life Volunteer Manual
55
EMOTIONAL HEALTH
• Accept or ask for help. People usually want to help, but are
unsure what to do.
• Make it known when you don't want company.
• Don't feel that you have to put up a brave front.
• Don't feel guilty about feeling happy.
• Take private time to get in touch with yourself and the changes
in you.
HELPING OLDER PEOPLE COPE WITH GRIEF
It is easy to underestimate the effect of grief on older people because
they are "used to it". Older people may have developed ways of
coping with grief but that doesn't make grief easier for them. In fact,
cumulative losses over a lifetime can lead to severe grief or
"bereavement overload".
With age, older people are already experiencing losses in their income,
health, independence and status. The death of a spouse can be
devastating for an older person because it can mean the loss of the last
close relationship and source of physical affection. Although older
people may be more realistic about death, they often have an intense
fear of dying – in particular, dying alone. Older people may also be
more reluctant to talk about how they feel or express their grief.
