Helping Someone Who is Grieving

A friend of yours has lost a loved one and must attend cremation services Pennsburg, PA. It can be a spouse, a parent, a child, or a close friend or relative. For any person, saying a final goodbye to a beloved soul is devastating. And during such times, you want to be there for your friend and do more than just sending flowers and offering condolences. 

We have gathered some thoughtful tips on caring for your grieving friend, family member, or colleague: 

1. Be There for Them 

First of all, be sure you are available for them – in silence, to listen, to drink a coffee, to sit a watch a movie together. Make them believe that you care for them, acknowledge and understand their loss, and want to help them to navigate through the grief journey well.   

Some people will want to be alone in their grief, and many times that’s perfectly ok. But even if they do want space to process things on their own, they will appreciate your efforts to be there for them. 

2. Offer Help 

If you’re offering help, be specific. No one likes to ask for things, least of all the grieving person. Thus, the answer to “Do you need help with anything?” is always NO. 

Instead, be generic and say, “I’d like to bring a meal, do you have any preferences? Or “when should I come over and cook some meals for you?” 

Similarly, here are some practical ways to offer help: 

• May I take your kids to the park for a couple of hours? 
  
• Can I do your laundry maybe the coming weekend? 
  
• I’m going to the grocery store tomorrow and planning to bring some daily-use items for you. Is there anything specific you are out of? 
  
• Can I pick up your dry cleaning? 
  
• Help with insurance forms, bills, or other paperwork 
  
• Take care of housework, such as cleaning or laundry 
  
• Look after his or her pets 
  
• Drive him or her wherever he or she needs to go 
  
• If you can afford, shop for groceries or run errands for them. 
  
• Share an enjoyable activity 

3. Don’t be Offended 

Remember that everyone grieves differently. At times, the grieving person says or does something that might seem offensive or hurtful. Don’t take it to heart. They just lost someone. Just ignore the moment and keep supporting them. 

4. Invite Them to Things 

The grieving person needs company to keep their mind off grief. Invite them to lunch, coffee, a day trip to the park, a movie, church, or anything that they would enjoy. But be mentally prepared to be denied. 

Someone who is grieving probably won’t want to do much initially. But thoughtful invitations will show that you care for and love them. When they’re ready to start doing things again, they will appreciate all your effort. 

If you’re texting them to learn about their health or send some invitation, be sure that you don’t overwhelm them with texts. A few times a week after cremation services Pennsburg, PA, is fine.