People often talk about wanting to live to 100 and looking forward to many rewarding senior years. One of the more difficult experiences connected with such a long life is multiple times of bereavement. Seniors lose more relatives and friends as the year’s pass. Some even must cope with adult children passing away. Geriatric Therapy in Chicago IL is helpful for elderly men and women having trouble dealing with multiple losses.
Managing Overwhelming Emotions
Seniors understand that loved ones will pass away in larger numbers during these years. Nevertheless, that realization doesn’t necessarily make the situation easier to manage. Especially when someone loses more than one important person within a short time, the emotions may feel overwhelming. Geriatric Therapy in Chicago IL allows these individuals to talk freely and learn effective strategies for moving through grief.
Losing one’s spouse or best friend can be emotionally devastating, even when someone knows the probability of this increases every year. Most men and women would agree that losing a child is the worst bereavement experience. Yet this also is likely once adult children become senior citizens.
Preventing Greater Risks
Older people experiencing intense grief are at greater risk of illness and even death. They may have trouble sleeping and little appetite. Concentration and decision-making can become difficult. Depression and anxiety may lead them to withdraw and become more isolated during a time when they should be reaching out. Therapeutic sessions help clients move through the early stages of grief and be able to enjoy life again.
