Can someone die from a broken heart? From what it seems, “yes”, as long as companionship makes the loss very painful especially for older couples.
Bereavement and Emotions
Sadness depends on the character and the change that death brought to the one that is left behind. In elderly loss has to do with complementarity and the quality of the relationship of the couple. The better it was, the greater is the cost but if the relationship was not good then it may serve as relief. At the stage of bereavement prevail negative emotions such as sadness, fear, loneliness, anger and even depression.
If the period of grief is prolonged and the person can’t cope with everyday life, then help is necessary.
Loss in many areas
Older people are very tied with each other because when children leave home then they are left alone and they help each other both practically and emotionally. So, loss has many dimensions because they don’t just lose their partner, but also new problems arise such as disorganisation of the family, lifestyle changes. It should therefore be a reallocation of responsibilities for the one that is left behind because he may have to undertake new duties.
When the circle narrows
Feelings of loneliness can be exacerbated by the loss of their friends. The contraction of their social contacts brings them closer to death. In older people this is a period of review where acceptance of death is related to the meaning of their life. If they are satisfied with what they have accomplished then it is easier for them to accept that someday they will die but if they have unresolved issues then it is harder for them to accept the end of life.
Children’s help
The role of their children is crucial in how they cope with the loss. Children can help them move forward if they are close to them, stress the importance of their presence and make them feel comfortable to express their feelings. They can also eliminate their sense of “burden” by reminding them their obvious contribution to their well being. In general children should encourage their parents to continue their activities and as their pain decreases they should help them accept the death of their loved one and move on. This can be done either by writing a letter to his lost partner or with a ritual of remembrance such as browsing an album with all the members of the family.