WE ARE SORRY about your loss 💛

[SummerOnTheWay1]

THIS GROUP IS OPEN TO ALL GRIEVERS NO MATTER HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN [years,days].

To participate, click on reply button at bottom of this post. Enter your comment. Click on reply again.

Grief & Loss Team  🤗

[SummerOnTheWay1]

‌💰‌    Finances WHILE GRIEVING!!!

I don't know about you guys, but boy was I "blindsided" when I lost the luv of my life!!! ‌😱‌

We are used to TWO "handling" the finances, but got "bumped" to ONE.

(1) 1st, try NOT to panic. Easier said than done, I know!!!

(2) Deal with what needs to be done RIGHT NOW!!! Things like the cell phone bill, rent/mortgage, water, electric, internet - CALL them. Most will give you some "grace" with what you OWE or WILL OWE with the coming month.

(3) Let the folks who CARE about you KNOW what "financial" help you may need. A simple GIFTCARD or CASH to get groceries, gas, prescriptions are a lifeline.

(4) Then make a list of what is RELATED to "burying" or cremating your luv one. ALWAYS check to see what they may have. In my case I am paying on my FUTURE cremation. Started late at age 67, but glad I did. This way something is in place to "help" my only child.

(5) The main thing here is to have somewhere SAFE to live dear friend. No need to get "evicted" or foreclosed. So try NOT to wait to CONTACT the folks you OWE. Do this ASAP. ‌👍‌

[SummerOnTheWay1]

‌🔍‌     If you are looking for local, in-person support groups or specialized professionals, consider reaching out to your primary care provider for a local behavioral health referral. Or contact a nearby bereavement center, which frequently offers community grief support programs.

[SummerOnTheWay1]

‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌📌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌   Make a MEMORY blanket, teddy or cushions out of YOUR loved ones’ clothes.

*** Something to "snuggle" up with on those "sleepless" nights or when the "tears" arrive. ‌

[SummerOnTheWay1]

🖥    AARP hosts FREE virtual GRIEF & LOSS WEBINARS that are open to both members and NON-members. These Zoom-based sessions focus on coping with grief overload, managing the guilt of loss, and end-of-life planning. You can explore and register for these upcoming discussions on the AARP events page.

[SummerOnTheWay1]

‌‌‌‌👴‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌👵‌‌‌‌   Grieving in OLD AGE is uniquely challenging due to accumulated loss — often called BEREAVEMENT OVERLOAD. It’s a whole-body experience extending beyond losing loved ones to include grief over declining health, independence, and shifting identities. Isolation worsens this, making ACTIVE SELF-CARE, community connection, and PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT absolutely vital.

‌‌‌➡️‌‌‌[*** If you know a Senior who is "grieving", please CHECK on them daily. If you are a Senior who is GRIEVING, please "reach out" to let the CARING folks in your life KNOW you need them. My daughter CHECKS on me daily. ‌‌‌💛‌‌‌‌‌‌🤗‌‌‌

[SummerOnTheWay1]

AARP Grief Resources for Loved Ones of Deceased AARP Members!

‌‌‌‌‌‌‌➡️‌‌‌‌‌‌‌[*** FROM THE WEBSITE.

We're here to help!

(1) AARP extends our deepest sympathies to you and your family for your loss. We have resources available to help you navigate this challenging time.

(2) To cancel or transfer the account, go to How To Notify AARP About a Deceased Member. They provide a link for this.

(3) USE LINK BELOW TO ACCESS ALL AARP INFO ON GRIEF!

*** Give it a little time to come up. NOT sure WHY it does this! ***

https://help.aarp.org/s/article/resources-for-loved-ones-of-deceased-members

[SummerOnTheWay1]

‌📜‌   "When you experience LOSS, people say you’ll move through the 5 stages of grief.
(1) Denial, (2) Anger, (3)Bargaining, (4) Depression, (5) Acceptance.

What they don’t tell you is that you’ll CYCLE through them all every day." RANATA SUZUKI.

[SummerOnTheWay1]

‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌♻️‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌   Stop by to SHARE YOUR JOURNEY!!!

WE will ALWAYS leave a comment in response to YOUR POST. ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌

Sharing "may" HELP with our healing and "may" also HELP another griever who stops by = members supporting members.

*** They will KNOW there are OTHERS out there and "may" find YOUR solutions to YOUR grief works for them. Thank you for CARING about others. ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌ ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌

Grief & Loss Team ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌🤗‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌

[SummerOnTheWay1]

🪔   While GRIEVING, it's important to spend time with SUPPORTIVE people to:

(1) Talk about how you are feeling.

(2) Accept offers of help.

(3) Simply be together.

‌➡️‌[*** Your support may come from a Support Group or Counselor. Try to find people who UNDERSTAND you.

[SummerOnTheWay1]

‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌♻️‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌   What are YOU dealing with at THE MOMENT? ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌

NEVER feel ashamed about any challenges you are facing.

WE ALL will have them at some point of our lives.

*** Stop by to SHARE when you feel up to it and/or SUPPORT another griever (with a comment to their post). Members helping members. ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌

We are ALWAYS here IF you need us (listen & chat & support).

Grief & Loss Team ‌‌ ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌🤗‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌

[SummerOnTheWay1]

‌‌‌💡‌‌‌  While GRIEVING, set a regular routine to do something SPECIAL for yourself every day.

You can try:

(1) Going for a walk.

(2) Meditating.

(3) Taking time to relax.

[SummerOnTheWay1]

‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌🤗‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌💛‌‌‌‌     Because you are GRIEVING you may "feel" unable to "reply" to (support) ANOTHER GRIEVER here in the AARP Grief & Loss Forum.

But doing so (replying) has helped ALL of OUR GROUP members "feel" more in control of THEIR GRIEF.

Why?

Maybe because being a GRIEVER themselves = they know what TO SAY = comforting someone else "fills" THEIR INSIDES with "feeling" they have HELPED someone.

Thank you SO MUCH for stopping by when you can.

Grief & Loss Team!

[SummerOnTheWay1]

‌‌‌🕯‌‌‌  If you have lost someone, HONORING their memory may help you process your emotions.

You can try:

(1) Collecting photos or keepsakes.

(2) Writing a letter to the person who died.

(3) Sharing stories and rituals with loved ones.

[SummerOnTheWay1]

About the AARP Grief & Loss Forum!!!

A dedicated, public forum where members SHARE personal stories, find DAILY encouragement, and CONNECT with others navigating SIMILAR losses.

[SummerOnTheWay1]

LIVE IN THE MOMENT while grieving!!!

Right now is your chance to take 1 step towards MOVING FORWARD in "creating" a new life WITHOUT your luv one.

Yes, it hurts.

Yes, we maybe angry.

Yes, we have NO idea what the FUTURE holds for us as we travel through our GRIEF.

But RIGHT NOW, is an "opportunity" to either "give up" or continue to travel.

You got this my friend. ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌👍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌

Luv,

Nicole ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌🤗‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌🤗‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌🤗‌‌‌‌‌‌‌ (Grief Forum)

[SummerOnTheWay1]

‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌♻️‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌   WELCOME!!!

While WE cannot bring back YOUR luv one, we do UNDERSTAND. ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌

Why?

We too have lost luv ones and together we have "muddled" through the best we can.

Our Welcome Mat is ALWAYS there for YOU my friend.

Grief & Loss Team ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌🤗‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌

[SummerOnTheWay1]

✅️ OUR GROUP DISCUSSION!!!

What helps you on those SLEEPLESS nights? ‌🤔‌

‌👣‌   Keep stepping my friends = WE will get MORE SLEEP as time passes I promise.

‌➡️‌[*** Me, lighting an AROMATIC "Bath & Body Works" candle is one option.

Then "blow it out" when I BEGIN to feel sleepy.

I also GET OUT OF BED & find something to "read" or do (chores,AARP Rewards Activities).

Then CLIMB BACK INTO BED when I get "sleepy".

The MORNINGS are the "worst" after one of these nights IF I have to be somewhere.

It is like MY ALARM GOES OFF just when I start my zzz's.

Those mornings are a "test" of my determination to get things done IN SPITE of being TOTALLY EXHAUSTED.

Nicole ‌💛‌‌🤗‌

[RobertD381092]

I don't go to bed until I'm really "spent."  So I usually fall asleep fairly quickly.

[SummerOnTheWay1]

✅️  Robert @RobertD381092 thank you SO MUCH for "participating" in Our Group Discussion!!

Luv,

Nicole 🤗🤗🤗 (Grief Forum)

---

➡️[*** ROBERT @RobertD381092 wrote:

I don't go to bed until I'm really "spent."  So I usually fall asleep fairly quickly.

---

[SummerOnTheWay1]

‌‌📍‌‌   Build While GRIEVING: Slowly create a new daily routine. Reclaiming your independence by tackling tasks your spouse used to do—such as cooking, handling finances, or learning DIY skills—can help rebuild your self-esteem and self-trust. 

[SummerOnTheWay1]

🪧    Try to maintain YOUR hobbies and interests.

There’s comfort in routine and getting back to the activities that bring you joy and connect you closer to others can help you come to terms with your loss and aid the grieving process.

*** Maybe try something NEW.

[SummerOnTheWay1]

‌‌‌📜‌‌‌   "Whoever said that loss gets EASIER with time was a liar. Here's what really happens: The spaces between the times you miss them grow LONGER. Then, when you do remember to miss them again, it's still with a stabbing PAIN to the heart. And you have GUILT. Guilt because it's been too long since you missed them last." KRISTIN O'DONNELL TUBB.

[SummerOnTheWay1]

FOR FOLKS (grieving) ON MEDICARE!!!

Sometimes Individual Counseling "helps" us to REGAIN some "control" of our lives as we TRY to survive our grief.

Medicare covered MONTHLY sessions for me for as long as needed.

Just make sure your PRIMARY doctor REFERS you & always CALL Medicare to make sure EVERYTHING will be covered.

We DONOT need any "surprise" bills to add to our stress.

Nicole ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌🤗‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌💛‌‌‌‌‌‌‌

[SummerOnTheWay1]

‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌📜‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌   “Sometimes all YOU can do is lie in bed and hope to fall asleep before YOU fall apart.” WILLIAM C. HANNAN.

[SummerOnTheWay1]

‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌🕯‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌  DECISIONS that often cause people distress!!!

*** Please "take your time" with these decisions & deal with life the "best" YOU CAN. ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌💛‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌🤗‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌

(1) When to SORT through their loved one's belongings.

(2) Whether or not to take OFF their wedding ring.

(3) When to RETURN to work.

(4) How often to VISIT the cemetery.

(5) Whether or not to SELL or move.

[SummerOnTheWay1]

ABOUT OUR GROUP!!!

Peer SUPPORT: Connect with others in similar situations on the AARP Grief & Loss Forum, an active online community where members share stories and offer MUTUAL COMFORT.

[SummerOnTheWay1]

‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌❌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌️    Myth:

Grieving should last about a YEAR.

‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌✅‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌️    Fact:

There is NO specific time frame for grieving. How long it takes DIFFERS from person to person.

[SummerOnTheWay1]

‌‌‌‌‌‌‌👣‌‌‌‌‌‌‌   Did YOU take a step TODAY/TONIGHT? Tell us about YOUR STEP!!!

Sometimes it maybe a half a step (not quite where we hoped to be, but you TRIED). ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌👍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌

Those half steps do "help" with moving past your grief = finding peace & comfort.

*** EVERYONE'S step will be DIFFERENT. For some of us, just "getting" out of bed is a CHALLENGE. Celebrate that step when YOU DO!!! And keep on "stepping" IF you can into a DAY/NIGHT FULL OF "possible" comfort & peace. You got this my friend!!! ‌‌‌‌‌‌👍‌‌‌‌‌‌

Grief & Loss Team ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌🤗‌‌‌‌‌‌‌

[SummerOnTheWay1]

‌‌‌👍‌‌‌   REMEMBER!!!

We will see our luv ones AGAIN.

Meanwhile, HONOR their "memory" with taking care of yourself (physically, mentally, emotionally).

Yes, WE MISS THEM EVERY DAY & NIGHT.  ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌😞‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌

They are WITH US ALWAYS, seeing our "efforts" and luving us.

You got this my friend!!!

Luv,

Nicole  ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌🤗‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌🤗‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌🤗‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌  (Grief Forum)

[SummerOnTheWay1]

‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌📜‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌    "We start ADAPTING to our new identity, our new life. I’m NOT saying the battle is over and here’s the new me. But a little at a time, we take on these CHANGES that give us more clarity of this new life."  FRANK COMPARATO.