Loss, Change and Grief

Loss, change and grief are inextricably linked and represent feelings and experiences that all of us will have at some point in our lives.

It is often assumed that a person with a learning disability will not react to experiencing loss, change or grief, or their reactions are assumed to be ‘behaviours’. Both of these assumptions are wrong.

Never underestimate the power that loss, change and grief can have on a person, and be mindful that - if anything - a person with a learning disability may feel the effects of loss, change and grief even more acutely than you do.

Contents of this mini book:

• A trio bound together
  
• What does “loss” mean?
  
• How does “loss” manifest itself?
  
• Supporting a person’s loss
  
• Impact of loss on daily life
  
• The grief cycle
  
• The grief cycle and people with a learning disability
  
• How the grief cycle affects a person who is dying
  
• Supporting a person who is dying through their grief cycle
  
• Change within a person
  
• Remaining positive
  
• “Just right support”
  
• Making sense of loss, change and grief
  
• The danger of bottling up emotions
  
• There is no timeframe