Loss and Grief in Dementia

Section 4
4.2 GuIdAnCe On SuppORtInG A peRSOn WItH
dementIA expeRIenCInG LOSS And GRIef
a. Be aware of the types of losses commonly encountered by a person with dementia.
b. Develop skills in recognising loss and grief in people with dementia. In order to do that, it
is important to:
• Take a person-centred approach and know the person well.
• Develop good observation and communication skills in order to recognise the
many ways in which grief can present for people living with dementia.
• Observe how the person is presenting each day – do they seem happy/
sad/tearful/anxious? Are they sleeping/ eating well?
• Work as part of a team – share information/ observations with other staff and
family as appropriate to ensure loss and grief is recognised and responded to
appropriately.
c. Truth telling in dementia: Deciding whether to tell a person with dementia the truth
relating to their losses (past or present) should be done within a team taking account
of the following:
• The person’s current beliefs / knowledge and experience.
• The person’s capacity to register, process and retain the information pertaining
to their losses.
• The person’s communication skills and how best to support their understanding.
d. Provide support for a person with dementia to grieve the myriad of losses they are
experiencing.
e. Explore the person with dementia’s spiritual needs.
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Loss and Grief in Dementia