SELF-CARE AND MANAGING GRIEF

Death is unavoidable, yet we keep it at arm’s length. We know it is going to happen, but we don’t want to let it in. The purpose of the Living with Loss series is to help people feel more comfortable talking about and exploring issues related to death. This lesson highlights self-care and managing grief. Talking about self-care and how to manage grief is important because it helps people learn how to adjust and keep on living after a loved one has died. When grief is properly processed, coping and healing can result.

To help people better take care of themselves and manage grief, the FCS Agent in Washington County taught the lesson, “Living with Loss: Self-care and managing grief” to Homemakers and community members in the Lincoln Trail Area (Hardin, Meade, Nelson, Marion, Grayson, Breckinridge, Washington and Larue)  Twenty-four participants attended the program, and fourteen completed a post-lesson evaluation. Of these, fourteen (100%) reported that the lesson helped them better understand the grief experience for themselves or others. Fourteen (100%) reported that they learned various ways to work through grief. Fourteen (100%) reported that they learned how to manage grief triggers. Fourteen participants (100%) reported that the lesson taught them how to better take care of themselves (or others) during times of grief. Thirteen (93%) reported learning the benefits of grief journaling and fourteen (100%) reported learning the benefits of bereavement support groups. In summary, this lesson increased fourteen participant’s overall understanding about the importance of self-care and managing grief.   

Participants were white and ranged in age from 55-84.  Twenty-three were women.  Participants attended this lesson to find help with a personal experience of loss and because they intended to bring the lesson to their Homemaker club members.

Valuable lessons that participants learned included: 

1. The importance of staying connected with other people
2. Stages and types of grief
3. How to take care of themselves while living with loss 

The FCS Agent also completed a recording of the lesson to share with the Lincoln Trail Area Extension clients.  The recording was posted on the Washington County Extension Facebook page, where clients have expressed their appreciation, tagged others, and followed up to request publications.