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Living Grief and Bereavement

[/av_textblock] [av_one_full first min_height='' vertical_alignment='' space='' custom_margin='' margin='0px' padding='0px' border='' border_color='' radius='0px' background_color='' src='' background_position='top left' background_repeat='no-repeat' animation='' mobile_display=''] [av_textblock size='' font_color='' color='' custom_class='' admin_preview_bg=''] [av_hr class='invisible' height='30' shadow='no-shadow' position='center' custom_border='av-border-thin' custom_width='50px' custom_border_color='' custom_margin_top='30px' custom_margin_bottom='30px' icon_select='yes' custom_icon_color='' icon='ue808' font='entypo-fontello' custom_class=''] [av_image src='http://www.tide.uk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/bones-300x169.jpg' attachment='3064' attachment_size='medium' align='center' styling='' hover='' link='' target='' caption='' font_size='' appearance='' overlay_opacity='0.4' overlay_color='#000000' overlay_text_color='#ffffff' animation='no-animation' custom_class='' admin_preview_bg=''][/av_image] [av_textblock size='' font_color='' color='' custom_class='' admin_preview_bg=''] By Amanda McCarren tide Head of Development and National Lead for Scotland & Northern Ireland In society today it is commonly acknowledged, accepted and permitted to experience feelings and behaviours associated with grief and bereavement when someone dies. Even if you look up definitions in the dictionary for grief and bereavement you will frequently find words such as death, dying and the loss of a loved one. What these definitions and society don't often acknowledge, accept or permit, is that when you are caring for someone with dementia you will experience feelings of grief and bereavement whilst the person is still living. The lack of awareness of “living” grief and bereavement is not only limited to professionals but in many cases to carers themselves. They may be experiencing feelings that they cannot explain or articulate to others. Often these will be feelings of grief and bereavement that they have not recognised in themselves. Carers can experience grief and bereavement associated with a number of aspects of caring for someone with dementia including; grieving for the life you expected to have, grieving for the loss of relationship or connection with the person, grieving for the life you used to have, grieving on behalf of the person with dementia, grieving for the adjustment in expectations of what you are now able to do, grieving for the loss of your employment, relationships, hobbies, time to yourself, identity and sense of self. Carers may also experience feelings of grief and bereavement at points of transition e.g. when the person with dementia is admitted to hospital or moves into a care home or has a significant deterioration in their condition or symptoms. Carers find themselves in a sustained cycle of both complex and anticipatory grieving patterns which have a profound physical and psychological impact on those carers and those around them. Talking about it is difficult and often met with a lack of empathy and the justification that “you are lucky, you still have them here”. This creates feelings of shame and guilt in carers and further contributes to the need to internalise these feelings and not to admit to having them. tide want to lift the lid on this taboo subject and shine a light on the real life experiences of carers of people with dementia. We do this in hope that other carers and professionals gain an understanding and awareness of this issue, and that it helps to influence and change practice and support for carers. [/av_textblock] [/av_one_full] [av_hr class='invisible' height='50' shadow='no-shadow' position='center' custom_border='av-border-thin' custom_width='50px' custom_border_color='' custom_margin_top='30px' custom_margin_bottom='30px' icon_select='yes' custom_icon_color='' icon='ue808' font='entypo-fontello' custom_class=''] [av_one_full first min_height='' vertical_alignment='' space='' custom_margin='' margin='0px' padding='0px' border='' border_color='' radius='0px' background_color='' src='' background_position='top left' background_repeat='no-repeat' animation='' mobile_display=''] [av_textblock size='' font_color='' color='' custom_class='' admin_preview_bg=''] If you want to get involved, please attend one of our focus groups. For sessions in Scotland click here to book: Newmains Community Trust Wednesday 28th of August 10am-1pm (followed by lunch) OR Wednesday 28th of August 6pm-8.30pm East End of Glasgow Thursday 29th of August, 10am-1pm (followed by lunch) Glasgow City Centre Thursday 29th of August 6pm-9pm Aberdeenshire Tuesday 10th of September 10am-1pm (followed by lunch) [/av_textblock] [/av_one_full]