Death and Dying
1. Define the Concept of loss, grief, mourning and bereavement.
• Loss is defined as: “occurs when a valued person, object or situation is changed or made inaccessible so that its value is diminished or removed”. Loss is the experience and feeling you get when dying. It has been felt by the individual dying as well as their family members and their significant others when their loved one is being taken away from them.
• Grief is the emotional/behavioral reaction to loss. It occurs with loss caused by separation as well as loss caused by death. It is a very normal process, but it normally takes several months to work through. Grief could come in the form of denial, emotional numbing, rage, anger, anxiety, sadness, fear, confusion, difficulty sleeping, and loss of appetite. This process varies from person to person.
• Mourning is “the period of acceptance of loss and grief during which the person learns to deal with the loss”. It is said to be very therapeutic because it is grief that is publically exposed. This includes: symbols and ceremonies such as a funeral or final celebration of a loved one’s life, memorial services, mourning dress, etc. Mourning is influenced by cultural customs, rituals and society’s rules of coping with loss. It is characterized by a return to more normal living habits, unlike a different type of grieving.
• Bereavement is “the state of grieving during which a person goes through a grief reaction”. This is experienced by both the patient and the family. The time a person spends in bereavement depends on how attached the person was to the person who died and how much time was spent together before the death occurs. This can affect a person physically as well as emotionally.
2. List and describe the Kubler-Ross stages of dying and grief.
• This Kubler-Ross model is also called the Five Stages of Grief. The stages occur in no particular order. The stages are as follows:
• Denial- “I feel fine” or “This can’t be happening, not to
• Loss is defined as: “occurs when a valued person, object or situation is changed or made inaccessible so that its value is diminished or removed”. Loss is the experience and feeling you get when dying. It has been felt by the individual dying as well as their family members and their significant others when their loved one is being taken away from them.
• Grief is the emotional/behavioral reaction to loss. It occurs with loss caused by separation as well as loss caused by death. It is a very normal process, but it normally takes several months to work through. Grief could come in the form of denial, emotional numbing, rage, anger, anxiety, sadness, fear, confusion, difficulty sleeping, and loss of appetite. This process varies from person to person.
• Mourning is “the period of acceptance of loss and grief during which the person learns to deal with the loss”. It is said to be very therapeutic because it is grief that is publically exposed. This includes: symbols and ceremonies such as a funeral or final celebration of a loved one’s life, memorial services, mourning dress, etc. Mourning is influenced by cultural customs, rituals and society’s rules of coping with loss. It is characterized by a return to more normal living habits, unlike a different type of grieving.
• Bereavement is “the state of grieving during which a person goes through a grief reaction”. This is experienced by both the patient and the family. The time a person spends in bereavement depends on how attached the person was to the person who died and how much time was spent together before the death occurs. This can affect a person physically as well as emotionally.
2. List and describe the Kubler-Ross stages of dying and grief.
• This Kubler-Ross model is also called the Five Stages of Grief. The stages occur in no particular order. The stages are as follows:
• Denial- “I feel fine” or “This can’t be happening, not to