Lesson 42: Grieving Across the Lifespan


Attention

childhood grief

There are no images about childhood grief that are easy to see...yet, often times the strength and perspective of children serves to shore up the adults who are also grieving.

Coming to terms with our own perspectives on death is an important part of helping others deal with death.


Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this lesson's material, students will be able to:

  • Describe the stages of the grieving process
  • Apply the Developmental Perspective to an understanding of grieving across the lifespan

Teaching

There are three terms associated with surviving loss:

  • Bereavement-state or condition brought about by loss by death
  • Grief-sorrow-hurt, anger, guilt, confusion, and other feelings
  • Mourning-the ways in which we express our grief

The Grief Process

  • Acknowledge the reality of the loss
  • Work through the emotional turmoil
  • Adjust to the environment where the deceased is absent
  • Loosen ties to the deceased

How are people expected to express their grief in your culture? What is OK and what is not OK? Where is the line between norma grief reaction and "Grief Disorder"?

Experiencing Grieving Across the Lifespan

How does a person grieve? Depends on how old they are.

Children

Click HERE to download a PDF outlining how children deal with grieving and what you can do about it!

Adults

  • Death of parents
  • Death of children
  • Death of spouse

Late Adulthood

  • Death of children or grand-children
  • Death of one's partner
  • Friends/Family

Assessment

Lesson 42 Discussion

Please feel free to share any personal experience of death and how you dealt with them. As sensitive as this can be, it is instructive to share how old you were at the time and how old the person who dies was.