The bond between a couple is intense. Many senior couples share their lives for 30, 40, 50, or 60 years before one passes away and leaves the other alone. The transition can be shocking, painful and frightening. In an upheaval, the surviving senior will need extra security to get through. However, grief is not only isolated to the loss of a partner. The death of a family member, dear friend, or pet are also genuine causes of grief in an elderly person’s life.
The grieving senior often feel alone and afraid. Grief is a powerful and all-encompassing emotion. During such times, extra security is required. A senior may be alone for the first time in their life, which may be terrifying. As a couple, the senior knew that if a medical emergency should occur, they could depend on their partner to call for help. However, living a solo lifestyle is an extreme adjustment for most seniors who are grieving. They require additional support and security during such a difficult time. Medical alert systems are one way that a grieving senior can feel less alone. Another option is an interactive computerized system that provides support, reminders, and assistance in the event of an emergency. Family and friends often opt to enroll the senior in a daily check-in service to make sure they are safe.
During grief, the feeling of loneliness is not only overpowering emotionally, but also scary for many seniors. Many seniors isolate themselves from friends and family. They may lose their zest for life. In extreme cases, they may stop eating, cease personal hygiene and enter a deep depression. Family members and friends usually step forward and seek grief counseling for the bereaved senior, but even that is often not enough.
Grief makes a person less cautious. The senior often walks around as if in a haze, which makes falls and other accidents even more likely. Having extra security options in place during the time of bereavement is undeniably comforting. Certain services can keep a senior safe during the grieving phase. Family and friends may also want to drop in daily to check on the senior.
The loss of a loved one is never easy. A senior will go through an extended period of grieving and depression. During such a difficult time, the senior may be distant and preoccupied, which means they may not be actively paying attention to their surroundings. This puts them at an increased risk of an accident or fall. With a little extra security, the grieving individual can continue aging in place and living an independent lifestyle. The additional security measures may also help reduce the feelings of fear and loneliness that are all-too-common during the grieving process.