Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and while it’s a day often spent with the ones we love, celebrating that love, Valentine’s Day can be especially tough on those who have lost the love of their life. Many seniors struggle with this holiday because it reminds them of the love they used to have. Whether their spouse passed away just this last year or decades ago, they might struggle through a holiday geared toward love, especially romantic love. As a caregiver of a widow or widower, you might wonder how to approach the holiday. Should you not bring up their loved one at all to prevent opening up old wounds, or should you try to distract them from the romantic ads, products, signs, songs, and everything else that permeates the air this time of year? Having companion care at home providers there can assist your loved one through such a trying time.
Four Tips to Help a Grieving Loved One
Ask What They’d Like. This may seem basic, but sometimes it’s the hardest first step. Ask your loved one if there is anything they’d like to do this Valentine’s Day to celebrate the love they had with their partner or spouse. If they’re not sure, ask them to tell you what they used to do and if they’d like to continue that tradition in a new way, or if they’d like to start something altogether new. If they say they’d rather ignore the whole holiday, ask them how you can help them do that.
Spend Time Listening. You can ask questions for them to answer, such as “Tell me how you met,” or “What was the best present they ever gave you?” You can also just sit beside them if they don’t want to talk. Let your loved one guide how much they want to share and how much silence they need.
Don’t Overdo the Distractions. While it might be nice to go see a movie or play a game of cards, give room for grief to interject itself when it wants. Grief doesn’t play by any timeline, so having flexibility to move with it can help your loved one feel less overwhelmed by it.
Encourage a “Social Media Free” Day or Week. Social media can be supportive, but it is also packed with people posting the highlights of their love relationships and activities for the world to see, and even the most grounded person can find themselves entrenched in comparing themselves to what others have, often falling short.
Comforting Your Loved One From a Distance
If you don’t live near your elderly loved one, talk to their companion care at home aide about different steps they can take to help your loved one navigate the holiday. You might arrange for the two of them to have a favorite pizza delivered, or the companion care at home provider might be the one to take your loved one out to see the latest movie in the theaters. Even if you don’t have anything special planned, companion care at home providers are always there to provide the support and listening ear your loved one needs, and many times, it is simply enough to know that others care to get through the toughest of holidays when you are a widow or widower.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Companion Care at Home Services in Needham, MA, please get in touch with the caring staff at Care Resolutions, Inc. today at (508) 906-5572
CARE Resolutions, Inc. provides quality 24-Hour Home Care for seniors and families in Walpole, Dover, Wellesley, Framingham, Norfolk, Quincy, Weston, Medfield, Boston, Sherborn, MA, and surrounding areas.
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