There are numerous life-limiting diseases nowadays that have proved hard to treat. As such, it is always challenging when one tries to cope with such an illness, as well as its ultimate death. Such a scenario often is accompanied by emotionally related challenges to any person affected, in spite of their resilience (Williams & McCorkle 2011). The challenge usually, affects the patients, family members as well as friends. In most cases, the affected people tend to deal with the predicament by themselves. However, research shows that talking to a trusted person outside one’s social network can help to ease the emotions, as well as get the affected person back to normal life (Ando 2013). As such, it is advisable to seek bereavement support from people within one’s social network when a relative or friend is faced with a life-threatening illness and its subsequent death.
Ando (2013) points out that doctors and nurses are a great source of support as well as reassurance. However, at times it is often difficult for patients as well as family members to give out certain information to anyone involved in their caregiving. Thus, people who are in one’s social network are the best to consult and share one’s feelings with. How then can people in social networks offer support to bereaved individuals? People in social networks can offer bereavement support through counseling and monetary contributions. It has been argued that counseling offers the concerned person an opportunity whereby they can scrutinize the experiences that they have gotten from the illness or even death (Davies & Higginson 2004). Such examination is significant in that it helps the affected people to understand the essence of their experiences and be able to improve based on the experiences.
Considering the case study of George, it is evident that he could not have coped with his mother’s illness and death since he did not know what was expected of him at such a time. In addition, it was even hard for George to manage his young family and take care of his dying mother. However, when he joined a support group in the hospital, George was able to get over his mother’s death, was became even strong to visit the school where his mother taught in a bid to ensure that his mother’s dreams were achieved. The support group in the hospital had given George enough experience regarding bereavement support and how to cope with an illness or even death.
People in social networks can be highly helpful as far as bereavement support is concerned. This is because they offer both material and emotional support (Davies & Higginson 2004). For example, the pupils and staff where George’s mother worked raised a considerable high amount of money that was to be used in her requested charity. As such, it can be seen that people in social networks are the best when it comes to bereavement support. After material support, one can get counseling which is very necessary for such scenarios. Through social network bereaved support, the affected people can learn about their capabilities, vulnerability as well as strengths (Smith 2011). Such realization is vital since the affected people can devise new ways through which they can cope with the practical, relational, emotional, as well as physical challenge that comes with a life-threatening disease and death.
Reference List
Ando, M 2013, “Changes experienced by, and the future values of bereaved family members determined using narratives from bereavement life review therapy”, Pall Supp Care, vol. 13, no. 01, pp.59-65.
Davies, E & Higginson, L 2004, Palliative care. Copenhagen, Denmark: World Health Organization.
Smith, B 2011, “Dying in the social media: When palliative care meets Facebook”, Pall Supp Care, vol. 9, no. 04, pp.429-430.
Williams, A & McCorkle, R 2011, “Cancer family caregivers during the palliative, hospice, and bereavement phases: A review of the descriptive psychosocial literature”, Pall Supp Care, vol. 9, no. 03, pp.315-325.