Help a Grieving Friend

3 Things You Can Do to
Grief can be all-consuming, especially for a caregiver who is experiencing a deep sense of loss. Unfortunately, all too often we forget the caregiver once the loved one has passed on.

If you know a caregiver who is grieving you can make a difference in simple, subtle ways. It is amazing to discover how healing a smile or a joke shared over coffee can be. At times like this, a moment can change a lifetime because being there at a time of need is so important.

Here are some ways others ‘gave’ to me or to a fellow caregiver when we were in the depths of our grief:

Comfort Package: Based on the care package idea, this ‘kit’ can include items such as favorite teas, puzzle books, and DVDs. Such a gift is not only thoughtful because it was put together with that particular person in mind, it is designed to give him or her some ‘non-grief’ activities which can provide a much-needed break.

Time: Knowing someone is there to listen when the time is right is such a boost. Weekly conversations are a good start, even if they are short, and can include walks or card games. Friends don’t have to act like the grief doesn’t exist. Their attention helps to dispel the isolation that can trap people in their grief.

Send a Card: Some acts of kindness - even the old fashioned ones - can be both small and relatively easy to do. A short note on a beautiful card is not only an unexpected surprise, it also reminds the caregiver that you are thinking about them. This can help relieve the sorrow.

Caregivers often put themselves last; it’s a habit you can help them break.