Being bereaved by the loss of a loved one with dementia during this very exceptional time of crisis entails a plethora of vicissitudes of COVID-19’s own making. In this scenario of unexpected fallout on the mental health front, a poignant need has emerged for dedicated bereavement support to be provided to people who have experienced the passing of a loved one with dementia during the pandemic. Being unable to say their proper good-byes or pay their respects because of coronavirus-related restrictions can be devastating and requires the sort of help that does not quite fit the standards of a bereavement within a more normal social context.
As a carer, looking after oneself is of the utmost importance in order to be able to cope, at this very challenging time. But a number of unaccounted-for encumbrances could get in the way of dealing with the grieving process and overcoming the loss. Feelings of remorse, guilt, regret, and many more, can surface as a reaction to the little amount of control one has over the way the deceased have had to experience their final days. Confinement, loneliness, distance…all these add to the already harrowing task of recovering from the shock of losing someone close.
Care from others can make this ordeal easier and, over time, can help the bereaved person to make a full recovery – this care and support is fundamental to the well-being of the people we at Fundación Alzheimer España are working for, and this is why we are currently rolling out bereavement-support sessions in a group-therapy format. We are glad to provide a highly-specialised time and adapted space, where grieving, dementia and loss all come together to be dealt with in an atmosphere of friendliness and understanding.
