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Pet Loss and the Elderly: How to Help Seniors Overcome the Death of a Pet

Elderly people tend to become very attached to their pets. In some cases, this has to do with the fact that they have had the pet for a number of years; in others, it is about the fact that the pet has become a companion in their life. Therefore, when the death of a pet occurs, it can be as devastating to anyone — but particularly an elderly person — as a human loss. After all, the pet served as a friend, protector and sometimes, a guide.

Helping seniors overcome such a loss usually starts with the proper method of pet memorial. Once someone has gotten so attached to their pet, they cannot just bury their friend and move on. Older people usually want to mark the occasion with a pet memorial of some sort.

Since most pets are buried, usually in the yard of the home in which they live or in a cemetery set up exclusively for pets, a pet grave marker is a good place to start. A pet grave marker not only gives you a place to come visit your pet, but it also announces to the world that your cat, dog, bird or another animal made someone’s time on this Earth a more pleasant place to live.

There are many other ways, including pet urns and online pet memorials, to remember a pet. Since seniors are not usually well-versed in online products and services, it is important to have a family member or friend assist with finding a pet memorial website.

In this time of grief, it is also important to offer as much support as possible to an elderly person who has just lost a pet. After all, many years with a pet breeds a certain type of deep attachment making the loss just that much more profound. Don’t attempt to replace the animal right away and offer to accompany your loved one to a pet support group. You might also take them to visit the pet grave marker in the place where their beloved pet is buried and encourage them to take as long as they need to in order to properly heal.

A relationship with a pet is a lifelong one, full of ups and downs. You can’t rush the grieving process after the loss of a pet any more than you can when the deceased is a human being. Offering support and proposing ways to memorialize your pet is a great start to remembering the life you shared.

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How to Comfort a Grieving Person

It is the question we will all wish we knew the answer to, and it surrounds the dilemma if you have not already been faced with, you will be faced with one day. There is no one right answer, no matter how badly I wish there were. There are no two grieving individuals who will cope with their loss the same exact way.

The Introvert Personality Vs. the Extravert Personality During the Grieving Process

Introvert personalities are people who hold a lot in, and are less likely to be open with their thoughts and feelings. An introvert during the grieving process may be someone you find very difficult to read, they probably will not tell you what they need as far as comfort from you. Also, this is an individual who might also try to disguise or hide their true feelings concerning the death of their loved one. People who fall under this personality type are more likely to become self destructive or perhaps even suicidal or violent during the grieving process.

In contrast the person with the extravert personality are likely to openly display their emotions and grief. It is more common for these individuals to make what they are going through known, sometimes even using extreme measures. In many ways these individuals are much more emotionally stable than introverts because they choose not to keep everything bottled up inside. Understanding how to comfort a grieving person with this personality type may be a lot less challenging.

How to comfort a grieving person.

Rather an introvert or extravert our personal experiences play a huge role in how we cope with death. If we an individual is taught and conditioned to express their emotions in a healthy manner, they are more prone to cope positively with death. However, when comforting someone who has just lost a loved one always try to think of that person as an individual and what their personal needs may be. It is common for people to say “I understand what you are going through”, try not to say this because you do not understand. Death impacts each of us differently, and just because you’ve lost a loved one it doesn’t mean everyone who encounters death will be impacted the same.

When all else fails and you are not sure what do or say, make yourself accessible to the person who is in need of comfort. If it is only a simple phone call, drop by their home, or even a “thinking of you” card. Always let the individual know that you want to be there in any way that you can, these are the times people learn who truly cares most for them.

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How To Cope With Grief and Loss Through Grief Counseling and Life Coaching

Some of the Most Common Ways to Cope With Grief and Loss are Grief Counseling and Life Coaching

What is Grief?

Grief is a human way to deal with the feelings of love that we believe have ended.  Another way of defining grief is the normal and natural reaction to significant emotional loss of any kind.

There is no one way to grieve. As we all are individual, we all grieve different and often turn towards grief groups. Also, our society at large does not have a general way to honor grief. Since we are a society that is always struggling with time management and high demands, taking time to grieve or knowing how to grieve is not part of our system. However, religion often fills this gap in our society.

Each religion has rituals to follow for grief and how to grieve a loss. These rituals can provide us with a way to get through the initial shock of grief, but as many people know who have been through a loss, that when the rituals of religion end there is still grief and the adjustment of loss with which to deal.

There are many incorrect ideas about grief such as: “time will heal” or the “Five Stages of Grief”. These are only two of the many “myths about grief” that we are taught to believe and can actually prevent us from moving beyond our pain.

How Can Grief Counseling Help?

Funeral Directors wear numerous hats, and are expected to accomplish many important things in a short period of time, while facing many funeral planning challenges. Families are grieving and have important decisions to make under much duress. They may often expect a degree of emotional support that some Funeral Directors may not have the time or skills to be able to provide.

Through grief counseling and working with a Life Coach, these added levels of emotional support and expertise can very often help families bridge and offer the help that most families are searching for.

Five Powerful Ways a Life Coach Can Help Families:

1.  Offer the key support needed to get through this sorrowful time.
2.  Help families develop a short term, “what’s next”, plan for their lives.
3.  Help families establish new or revised long term life goals pertaining to work, school, relationships, hobbies and general wellness.
4.  Provide families with hope, motivation and direction to take control of their lives in the new role that they inherited as a result of their loss.
5.  A life coach is someone who listens, since sometimes that is what is most needed in a time of sorrow and confusion.

Grief Counseling is one of the fastest growing trends in self improvement, wellness and life in general. By offering this level of grief support and Life Coaching services; you are keeping your business relevant, and fulfilling your potential to better serve your families.

Coaching is not therapy or counseling. A therapist would be recommended if your client is particularly overwhelmed and unable to cope with their grief.  Another popular and healing option is to consider using grief message boards.

What is a Grief Recovery Outreach Program?

If you have experienced one or more losses, and you wish to move beyond the pain, this type of program offers step by step actions that will help you overcome your grief. It is the only program of its kind and has helped thousands of people worldwide recover from their heartbreak.

In summary, there are many ways to work through things like grief, loss, or even a crisis. There is help available to those who are grieving a loss, and we strongly suggest you look into seeking professional help through some of these excellent options.

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