In my previous Tip of the Month, I addressed the topic of caregiver grief, and offered a few suggestions for coping, including the use of rituals. Now I’d like to expand a bit on the topic of rituals and ask for your input.
What are grief rituals? They are symbolic actions providing meaning and comfort after a death, and a means to release the varied emotions of grief. Grief rituals can be personal such as writing in a journal, lighting a candle, or expressing oneself through art, music or poetry. Rituals can also be communal as attending a funeral or celebration of life service, hanging ornaments on a memorial tree, or sharing with others a memory or life lesson learned from the person who died.
Why are grief rituals important—especially for caregivers? A recent survey of 399 hospice caregivers in 38 states demonstrated that those caregivers who used meaningful rituals following their patient’s deaths had higher scores on a compassion-satisfaction scale and lower scores on a burnout scale.* When done with others, rituals help to create a sense of support and camaraderie.
I want to hear from you! What rituals do you practice alone, or with others, when someone you have cared for dies? I would love to learn from you. Please send me a sentence or a short paragraph to: rebecca@resourcesforgrief.com
I plan to compile your ideas for an upcoming Tip Of The Month. Let me know if I can include your name and place of work.
Warmest regards,
Rebecca S. Hauder, RN, LCPC