Models of Grieving

          The death of a loved one is a significant event experienced by everyone at some point in their lives. Thus, it is important for social workers to understand how grief affects surviving friends and family. Models of grieving establish the general stages or process through which an individual progresses; however, these stages do not necessarily occur in lockstep order. People who experience grief may do so in a different sequence or revisit earlier stages. Additionally, individuals’ social environments, including diversity and cultural factors, influence how they approach their own death or grieve the loss of others. Understanding the various ways people cope helps social workers anticipate their responses and assist them. Grief work is challenging. Addressing the needs of grieving family members can diminish social workers’ emotional, mental, and physical resources. In addition to developing strategies to assist grieving individuals in crisis, then, you must develop strategies that support your own self-care. In this Assignment, you apply a grieving model to work with families in a hospice environment, address how diversity affects grieving, and suggest strategies you can use for self-care.