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 Graves County taught the lesson, “Living with Loss: Self-care and managing grief to the Purchase Area Extension homemakers as part of their Lifelong Learning Series.”  Over 20 participants attended the lesson leader training, and then taught the lesson to their homemaker club members reaching over 660 members.

43 completed a post-lesson evaluation. Of these, 95% reported that the lesson helped them better understand the grief experience for themselves or others. 

97% reported that they learned various ways to work through grief. 

95% reported that they learned how to manage grief triggers.

97% participants reported that the lesson taught them how to better take care of themselves (or others) during times of grief. 

84% reported learning the benefits of grief journaling and 

95% reported learning the benefits of bereavement support groups. In summary, this lesson increased 

95% participant’s overall understanding about the importance of self-care and managing grief.   

Participants reported attending this program because:

·       Wanted to learn more about grief processing

·       To learn how to cope with grief

·       To better process my personal loss and to help others

·       Because I lost my husband

·       Due to a recent loss

·       Lost both of my parents 5 months a part and still trying to cope

     I am attending every grief program I can

A valuable lesson participants learned:

·       Anger is ok

·       It is okay to feel my emotions

·       Empathy vs Sympathy

·       It’s okay to not be okay

·       That I will experience lots of emotions

·       There will always be a loss but will learn to move on and live with it

·       Grief is normal and can be survived!

     People grieve differently