9 Ways to Help Someone Grieving the Loss of a Loved One During COVID 19
It is not always simple knowing how to provide comfort to someone who has lost a loved one. Sometimes you don’t know what to say or what to do to offer support, but reach out anyway. Especially during these times when you are not able to physically be there, reaching out to them will mean a lot. The person who is dealing with someone they cared about passing on may be feeling empty, lost, and alone, for that reason, they will appreciate you caring about them and being there for them.
Here are some suggestions to offer comfort and assistance from a distance:
Contact the grieving person by phone to offer your condolences. If they don’t answer send a text. If they don’t respond, do not take it personally. They may be busy or may not want to communicate at this time.
Instead of saying you are here for them if they need you, just actually do something. They may not know what they need and won’t want to feel like a burden when they do need something.
A suggestion is you could drop off food or share with them what time you are available to run errands for them.
Volunteer to do specific activities such as make a tribute video or help set up a fundraising drive if the family needs financial assistance or contribute to the fund.
Even if you know what they are going through this is their own personal event they have to face, do not offer unsolicited experiences or stories. If they ask you questions, then have that conversation.
Do not tell them, “It was their time” or “they’re in a better place”. Those words offer no relief.
Do not ask anyone, “How close they were to the deceased” or any questions to determine the kind of relationship they had. It doesn’t matter if the last time someone spoke to the person was months ago or if it was a year or more when they saw them last, people can still care for someone no matter the time that has passed in interacting with them.
Keep in touch with the bereaved person on a regular basis, not to pester, but to so they know they’re not alone.
Be understanding to the different emotions they will experience and do not take it personally when they are angry and being unkind.
Allow the person to heal in their own time. Everyone handles death differently and they don’t need an expiration date for mourning. Even when it appears as though they are feeling better, respect their process.
One last thing: Share with your loved ones how you care about them right now. It’s great to hear people sharing stories of all of the wonderful ways the deceased person has positively affected their lives, but they would have loved to have heard those words while still living.