For the past few years we’ve seen an increase in older individuals needing our services. As the baby boomers are “aging out”, they (65+) are becoming the fastest growing population in our country. Many of those who reach out for assistance have lost a loved one, spouse or partner and so we also have seen an increase in individuals trying to navigate grief. In one study almost ½ of all participants cited such a loss as the onset of them becoming homeless. Grief can oftentimes be both a cause and an effect of homelessness. People experiencing homelessness also can face disenfranchised grief, meaning their grief is not acknowledged by society thereby further isolating them and making them more vulnerable. So how does one cope with such a loss while dealing with a whole other kind of loss / grief as it pertains to losing their housing?
It’s important to encourage connecting with other people whether it be a friend, family or clergy member to avoid isolating themselves. To help with that, Sussex County has a new non-profit GriefShare organization, called Hope Thru The Valley, which offers support as well as social activities. Being able to provide resources / access to mental health services and using a trauma informed care model. Which shifts the conversation from, “What’s wrong with you?” to, “What happened to you?”
It’s important to always listen and meet individuals where they are. Grief is a process and there is no right or wrong way or timeline to deal with this emotion.
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