Grief is an emotional response to the loss of a meaningful part of a person’s life. While everyone experiences grief differently, common symptoms of grief include feelings of sadness, anger, and guilt. People most commonly experience grief following the death of a spouse, child, friend, or pet. Grief can also arise after a divorce or job loss, or following the loss of a home or a decline in physical health. The sypmtoms of grief can be particularly pronounced among the aged population because the elderly so often face the simultaneous loss of their loved ones, health, and employment. Moreover, older adults are often confronted with the loss of physical mobility due to the ageing process, which can intensify feelings of sadness and anger.

It is important to recognize symptoms of grief and obtain help and support quickly so that depression can be avoided and emotional health can be restored to the greatest extent possible. While symptoms of grief often decrease in severity over time, there are certain cases in which symptoms are so intense and prolonged that a person has difficulty participating in day to day activities. In these cases, it is important to seek professional help as quickly as possible to prevent long term depression or emotional disturbance. Grieving individuals should be encouraged to participate in counseling sessions or a grief and loss support group, both of which are effective in helping people cope with loss.