Grief and Bereavement

Question 1

Define Grief

Answer 1

refers personal feelings that accompany an anticipated loss or loss of someone or something you love.

Question 2

Bereavement

Answer 2

refers to loss of something dear to a person, family, or community

Question 3

Define grieving process

Answer 3

is an emotional readjustment to a new way
of experiencing life by a person who has lost someone or something special

Question 4

Stages of the grieving process

Answer 4

• Denial
• Anger
• Bargaining
• Depression
• Acceptance

Question 5

Denial

Answer 5

• The first reaction to learning about the terminal illness, loss or death of a
  close relative, The grieved person denies the reality of the matter.

Question 5

Anger

Answer 5

• The second stage, as the masking effects of denial begin to wear, the reality and pain re-surface. The person experiences frustration, helplessness, and a feeling of outrage at the apparent injustice of the loss.

Question 6

Bargaining

Answer 6

• At this stage the person attempts to react normally to feelings of
  helplessness and vulnerability, begin to gain control of the
  situation while struggling to find meaning of the reality

Question 7

Depression

Answer 7

• The depressed person is overwhelmed, helpless, sometimes frightened, hostile etc
• They may be quiet, withdrawn, cry easily may accept anything without protest
• This is a normal reaction which requires support from friend.

Question 8

Acceptance

Answer 8

• The person accepts the loss or impeding death and deals with life and relationships on a more realistic, day to day basis
• Those who accept their loss are often comfortable talking about it and generally display attitudes that are appropriate to their
  immediate circumstances

Question 9

Management of grief and bereavement

Answer 9

1. To accept that the loss has really happened.
2. To work through the pain and emotions of grief.
3. To manage the chores of daily life without the person who has died.
4. To move on with life and resume relationships.
5. To find spiritual comfort and meaning

Question 10

1. To accept that the loss has really happened.

Answer 10

• The first task is to face the reality that the person is dead and will not return in this
  life.
• To get on with life, a person needs, at some point, to face the reality of the loss

Question 11

Ways of helping a grieving person to achieve and accept that the loss has happened.

Answer 11

• Permit and encourage them to talk as much as they want to about the illness, their memories of the deceased, the death,
  the funeral and anything they would want to talk about.
• Just be with them even if the person does not want to talk. They need company so do not avoid them.
• Listen patiently and attentively when they talk.
• Help family and friends understand that a person often needs time to realize the finality of the loss

Question 12

2. To work through the pain and
   emotions of grief

Answer 12

• Ensure that the grieved person does not carry the pain with them for the rest of their lives, and become chronically depressed
  or ill

Question 13

How to make a patient to work through the pain and emotions of grief.

Answer 13

• Take note that these feelings are an important part of grieving
• Reassure them that such feelings are part of the grieving process
• Help them find acceptable ways to express their feelings with family and
  friends
• Provide a safe place and time to grieve
• Do not judge another person’s feelings

Question 14

3. To manage the chores of daily life without the person who has died.

Answer 14

• The bereaved person has now to adjust to living alone,
• Raising children alone, managing life without the help of the
  person who has died, making decisions alone
• Learning new skills, taking on new roles, living with a reduced
  income etc.

Question 15

How can a grieved person achieve managing the chores of daily life the person who has died.

Answer 15

• Help the bereaved person(s) identify problems
• Help the person find ways of dealing with family, cultural and
  social pressures
• Help the person find ways of problem solving and making
  decisions
• Help empower the person, do not promote a sense of
  helplessness.

Question 16

4. to move on with life and resume relationships

Answer 16

• One cannot forget a person who has been part of his/her life, or
  a person you have loved
• They are stuck in the past and cannot move on with their life

Question 17

How to make a grieved person to move on and resume relationships.

Answer 17

• Help them find ways to reassure themselves that the person who has died is in a good place
• Help the person find ways to move on with their life that they can accept
• Point out the benefits of moving on
• If there is guilt, help them find ways to deal constructively with their guilt.