Bereavement Services

Give sorrow words: the grief that does not speak Whispers the o'er-fraught heart, and bids it break Macbeth

Models of Bereavement Five Stage Model Denial Anger Bargaining Depression Acceptance

Models of Bereavement Tasks of Mourning Accept reality of Loss Experience pain of grief Adjust to changed environment To reinvest emotional energy

Models of Bereavement Continuing Bonds Tubingen Longitudinal Study of Bereavement (1991) Only a small minority wanted to change their lives or seek a new partner (17%), Many were seeking to integrate their loss into their life styles and carry on as before, Many still sensed their spouse’s presence and searched for them (even after two years), The deceased still had strong psychological influences over the way the bereaved organised and planned their lives, ‘consulting’ the deceased over major decisions, A report by Shuchter and Zisook (1993) found that many bereaved continued to cherish and nurture the relationship with the deceased.

Meaning Reconstruction Models of Bereavement Meaning Reconstruction Relearning the World: Making and Finding Meanings Bereavement as a difficult journey which begins by ‘suffering’: experiencing loss of wholeness; having the lines of connection with larger-life contexts broken; feeling helpless and powerless; missing the physical presence of the loved one; suffering ‘spirit’ and ‘soul’ pain.

Meaning Reconstruction Models of Bereavement Meaning Reconstruction Relearning the World: Making and Finding Meanings Relearning takes place in each aspect of our world:-   Physical surroundings Social surroundings Our very selves, including our characters Our own self-confidence and self-esteem Our relationships with those who died

Models of Bereavement Meaning Reconstruction Relearning the World: Making and Finding Meanings Grieving is a journey of the heart that brings us to the fullness of life in the flesh and blood, here and now, and into the future with those who still share the earth with us’. Thomas Attig

Loss versus restoration orientation Models of Bereavement Dual Process Loss versus restoration orientation Loss-orientation: Dealing with or processing some aspect of the loss experience Focusing on the relationship, tie, or bond with the deceased Yearning for the deceased

Models of Bereavement Restoration orientation: Adjustment to substantial changes Mastering the tasks the deceased used to do (finances, cooking) Arranging the reorganisation of life Development of a new identity from ‘spouse’ to ‘widow(er)’ / ‘parent’ / ‘parent of deceased child’.

Bereavement Services Palliative Care & End of Life Bereavement is an inevitable part of our lives. The process of grieving is a natural consequence of loss

Bereavement Services A service will be offered to family and friends of adults who have been, or currently are, under the care of the Cancer and Palliative Care Teams

Bereavement Services To offer appropriate and timely support to those who are about to be or are bereaved

Bereavement Services Level 3 Specialist Support Level 2 Bereavement Volunteer Level 1 Family, Friends, Existing Social Networks, Information

Bereavement Services Case Example One “You’re not like other blokes.” Case Example Two “This grief thing’s a funny old business.”

Walsall Palliative Care Centre Bereavement Services Contact Details: John Hayes (Bereavement Service Co-ordinator) Tel: 01922 602571 e-mail: john.hayes@walsallhealthcare.nhs.uk Liza Burnell (Family Bereavement Support Worker) Tel: 01922 602572 e-mail: liza.burnell@walsallhealthcare.nhs.uk Walsall Palliative Care Centre Goscote Lane Walsall WS3 1SJ

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