Dealing with Loss: Elderly Care in Jenison, MI
You spend many hours out of your day providing elderly care to someone. It could be your mother or father, a grandparent, aunt or uncle, or even a complete stranger as part of your job. No matter who it is, the more time you spend with him or her, the more connected you become, even if you try to avoid any emotional connections; it’s simply not possible.
So what happens when that individual passes away? It could be relatively sudden; they could have been doing well and their vitals were great and everything seemed fine, then suddenly they’re gone. Or it could be the result of a long and difficult illness to which they finally succumbed. It really doesn’t matter how it happens, the loss, the 
emptiness, the gap in your life is going to be real and you need to deal with that loss.
Whether you are a professional elder care provider or a family caregiver, there’s going to be a need for you to deal with the grief, the loss, and the time that you spent with that individual. So how can you set out to deal with this loss?
If it was a family member, then you’re likely going to be surrounded by other family members in the days and weeks following this loss. You can share stories and anecdotes about the things that you did with your loved one, especially in the recent months or years, and things that they said which were humorous. Maybe they weren’t funny at the time, but you realize now that they certainly are.
If it was a person whom you took care of, and you weren’t related, you may be welcomed by the family during their memorial service and perhaps even invited over to their home for dinner a couple of times. You may be neglected and forgotten. If that’s the case that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t or can’t grieve for your loss.
Loss is tough to deal with at times, even if you are an elderly care provider. Talk about your emotions. If you need to, find a counselor to speak to about what you’re feeling. If you were for an agency, contact your supervisor and let him or her know that you’re having trouble dealing with this loss. They have been there; they understand what you’re going through.
It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been an elderly care provider for someone; loss can be difficult and if you don’t deal with it directly, it can change you. Accept the grief and find someone to talk to about it. You’ll be glad that you did.
If you or someone you know needs help with elderly care in Jenison, MI contact the caregivers at Gauthier Family Home Care. We provide quality and affordable home care for many disabled and elderly loved ones in our community. Call us at (616) 658-2300 for more information.
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