Loss and Grief in Later Life.

This guide is designed to help readers understand loss and grief, and to sensitively respond to the grief of others. Although emphasis is on losses experienced in later life, most information is equally applicable to grief throughout adulthood. A section on understanding loss in later life lists a number of losses that are associated with aging. The grief process is explained in the next section, followed by a section on accepting the reality of the loss. A section on experiencing the pain notes physical, behavioral, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual responses to grief, and discusses anger, guilt, and loneliness. The next sections focus on adjusting to the changes that accompany loss and the reinvestment of emotional energy. A section on influences that affect the impact of loss discusses the significance of the loss to the person and considers characteristics of the loss. The section also considers a person's ability to cope and the role of social support. The next section explains how to help someone who is grieving. A sidebar offers simple guidelines for writing a condolence note. A brief summary is followed by a list of publications for further readings on the topics of loss and grief. (NB)