There are certain events in the life of every person which have an important bearing on the rest of his life. Events that in many meaningful ways change the course of life of an individual, by transforming the way he thinks, speaks, carries himself around, and in ways he interacts with the others in his surroundings. Events that change life style for better or for the worse are termed as significant life events (Brannon et al., 2013).
1.1 The significant life events are mainly of two types. These significant life events in the life of an individual are either of positive nature or they are of negative nature. Marriage, promotion at work, and death are considered positive significant life events. Conversely divorce, demotion at work, and death are negative significant life events. The positive significant life events bring about happiness in the life of an individual while the negative significant life events are painful and traumatic (Alder et al., 2009).
The important aspect of the significant life events in the life of an individual is that they are unexpected happenings. Due to their unexpected occurrence the normal flow an individual’s life undergoes a complete transformation (Scambler, 2008). As these events, in most cases, are unexpected the short and long-term effects of these events are unforeseeable. Hence it can be safely said that no individual is ready for the effects of these life changing events nor can plan in advance how to properly deal with them (Glasby, 2012).
Though birth and in even death under certain circumstances, as for instance when an individual is a cancer patient are expected still the effects of these life-changing events will have on the life of an individual cannot be predicted (Cardwell & Flanagan, 2005). It cannot be denied that an expected death, like for instance the death of a cancer patient causes the same magnitude of anguish and grief to the loved ones as a sudden death of a family member by an accident for example (Kubler-Ross, 1970).
1.2 Research has uncovered that there are forty (40) areas that cause tension and stress in the life of an individual. These said areas cause mental and even physical ailments. Some eminent scholars, however, hold that the daily trials, turmoils and tensions are more damaging to the health of an individual than significant life events (Dorothy & Cotton, 2013).
The single most important factor that has been identified as damaging to the psychological and physical health of an individual by the health and the social care experts is stress (Cooper & Dewe, 2008). Stress is the most common reaction of the body to significant life events. Stress causes such physical ailments as difficulty in breathing and loss of sleep while psychologically stress causes emotional and cognitive problems like anger and dementia, respectively (Maville & Huerta, 2012).
Research in the field of health care has discovered three main stages of stress. The first is the alarm stage as for instance an individual hears the news of a loved one’s death. The second is the resistance stage and the third and the final is the stage of recovery ((Funnell et al., 2009). All these stages are marked by release of body hormones. In the alarm stage the imbalance in the release of hormones is apparent stage while in the latter two stages the body gradually overcomes the loss of energy and the imbalanced hormonal release is checked and finally controlled. The suffering individual is now on the path to recovery and health. In certain cases, however, the stress develops into chronic stress during the resistance stage. Chronic stress is very dangerous and leads to many physical and psychological complications (Cooper & Dewe, 2008).
The case study of Mrs. J who has lost her husband is a study of bereavement. The death of her husband is a significant life event in her life. She has lost her husband with whom she spent some of the happiest forty (40) years of her life. He was her sole reliable help and care taker during all these years as Mrs. J could not perform the household chores because is a patient of dementia.
He was her companion who was by her side in both the good and the bad times, in sickness and health, and in happiness and sorrow. He was the sole shoulder Mrs. J could rest on when ill or in bad mood. Losing her life partner has caused her such shock and pain that she needs time to come to terms with the fact that from now on he will not be there to care for her in times of need.
Her condition is further complicated by the fact that her daughter lives faraway and cannot come to her aide, both emotionally and physically. That is the reason why her daughter has sought the advice of the ElderCare Solutions (Hooyman & Kramer, 2008). ElderCare Solutions is an American organization that specifically looks after people like Mrs. J who have recently suffered the loss of a loved one and are undergoing bereavement.
The daughter of Mrs. J wants her to be moved someplace near her so that she can take care of her mother. The ElderCare Solutions informs her that that her mother should spend the initial time of mourning in the place and surroundings she is at home in. It is not advisable to move her to the new surroundings soon because Mrs. J has been a part of the present community for a very long time. The support of the members of this community can in so many ways help her overcome her loss and once she has come to accept the death of her husband then her daughter can move her to a suitable elder care center near the place she live.
The first stage of the process of grief is marked by the feeling of denial. The individual is unable to accept the fact of death of a loved one (Dennis, 2008). The same is the case with Mrs. J. This stage depending on the nature of the person involved can last for a very long time or may be overcome in a short period. Denial affects the individual both mentally and physically. Researchers have discovered that denial is the defense mechanism of the body that results from the shock of the death of the loved one (Maville & Huerta, 2012). The support of the other family members and/ or the members of the friends of the family and other members of the community is a must for the bereaved individual to over-come the feeling of loss. Expert help in the form of visits by physicians, nurses and therapists, is also highly recommended. Hallucinations and delusions are a part of this stage of grief (Cardwell& Flanagan, 2005).
The stage of denial is followed, in the normal course of affairs, by the second stage in the process of grief that is anger. The feelings of vulnerability, helplessness, and guilt accompany the feeling of anger. During this stage the individual often vents his or her anger on the people closest to them. Prolonged bouts of anger can lead to isolation and alienation. Some people are prone to cause physical injury themselves or to those near them (Charles-Edwards, 2005).
The stage following the stage of anger in a bereaved individual is that of bargaining. Bargaining is in effect the need to regain the lost control in the individual’s life. Scholars in the health and social care sector construe bargaining as a positive sign. It is sort of a signpost for the experts that the individual is moving forward on the road to recovery and to start mending his or her fragmented life (Scrambler, 2008).
The fourth and perhaps the most important stage in the process of grief is that of depression. This considered the most dangerous stage in the process of grief. If this stage persists it can cause major psychological damage to the individual. This psychological damage also can transform into physical ailments. The individual suffering from acute depression is at risk of harboring suicidal thoughts. The support of the family, the community, and of experts both from the health and social care sectors is essential at this stage. It must be taken into account that not all the individual mourning the loss of a loved one go through the stage of depression (Parkes & Prigerson, 2014). The final stage of the process of grief is acceptance but this too is a fact that not all the individuals suffering the loss of a loved one ever accept this hard fact (Dudley & Cahn, 1987).
1.3 During all these stages the support of experts in the health and social care and of the related organizations is necessary. Hospitals and hospices have specially trained staff to take care of individuals like Mrs. J, to help deal with the death of a loved one. The NHS in the United Kingdom spends billions of pounds of tax-payers money to alleviate the sufferings of the individuals beset by the vagaries of the significant life events (Charles-Edwards, 2005).
The experts in the health and the social care fields undergo special trainings, including courses and seminars to equip their staff members and even certain members of the community to learn ways and means to handle life-changing life events. Listening and compassion are perhaps the best strategies to be employed in these circumstances Hart & Bond, 1998).
The children being the most vulnerable section of the society are most deserving of support by the health and social care providers. Grieving children need special health and social care support because unlike the adults they are not in a position to comprehend the utter and complete reality of a significant life–changing event such as the death of one or both of their parents Alder et al. 2009). As the children are not able to fully comprehend the ramifications of the death of their parents, it becomes doubly incumbent on the health and social care-givers to make them gradually understand the complete consequences of their irredeemable and even irreparable loss (Funnell et al., 2009). The importance of women to be the main part of the workforce in the health and social care sector is very important in such cases. Women are the best health and social care-givers, especially in the case of suffering children because of the maternal instinct being ingrained in their nature. As sensitivity is a part and parcel of their inherent nature women are best suited to console the grieving children. This is also the reason why many scholars strongly advocate the inclusion of women in the health and social sector (Maville & Huerta, 2012).
2.1 The concept of health and social care is a necessary aspect of the social welfare state in the West. The fragmentation of the society with the emphasis on the single unit family has given rise to many social problems. The support mechanism which initially was provided by the extended or joint family in any untoward event or situation has been taken-over by the welfare state (Hart & Bond, 1998). The less industrial nations and even those minority ethnic communities within highly industrialized countries that still live in extended or joint families have less problems of support during significant life events than those who have adapted the single unit family model (Glasby, 2012).
2.2 & 2.3 It goes without saying that the government is the foremost provider of health and social care to its citizens. Millions of pounds are annually funneled into the health and social welfare sectors. The government invests billions of pounds into creating, improving, and maintaining the health and social care sectors. This expenditure also includes investments in training personnel who are suitably equipped to deal with any emergency. An appreciable part of this funding also goes into the necessary research. New theories are constantly being put forward by the academia in the health and social care sectors. The validity and veracity of these new theories is tested in the field by the practitioners, and finally evaluated through the surveys (Glasby, 2012).
However, it is basically the output of the trained professionals that ultimately determines the success or failure, and determines the efficacy and the efficiency of these measures. Co-related to these endeavors by the government are the efforts by the private sector, both profit-driven and non-profit organizations, to provide quality support to individuals suffering from the effects of significant life events. The ElderCare Solutions is one such organization working for the betterment of individuals like Mrs. J who are mourning the loss of a loved one. It is a fact that the inter-agency contributions and collaborations are bearing fruitful results. Coupled with the efforts of inter-agency collaborations are the inter-disciplinary measures. All this in the final analysis is leading to improvement in the support being provided to the individuals in need. The advancements in modern technologies like the all-pervasive effect of the Internet and the advantages it brings forth are highly commendable and healthy developments in the field of health and social care. Finally, the external source of support in case of the life changing scenarios are sometimes better than the close or internal sources like the presence of a family member, for instance because that individual is going through the same phase of loss –in case of death of a loved one—as the prime bereaved (Kubler-Ross, 1997).
3.1 It is also imperative that the companies in the public and private sector take on the responsibility of looking after the psychological and the physical health needs of their employees who have recently undergone a significant life event and are in dire need of support may it be psychological, health related or even financial in nature. These companies must have strategies and systems in place to support and provide solace to their work force in times of need. Like the maternity leave and other such like benefits these companies must have strategies in place to support their grieving employees (Charles-Edwards, 2005).
3.2 On a personal note, some years back the father of my friend died. His mother had died of prolonged cancer after spending years in the death-bed. Her loss had made him a complete wreck but what made him live on was his ailing father and the fact that he was the only one to take care of him in his hour of need. In addition to this pressing fact my friend was very close to his father as they shared many fond childhood memories.
My friend is ultra-sensitive by nature and the death of his father hit him hard. For some months it appeared as if he had no will to live left in him. This situation perturbed me to no avail as all my efforts to console him and provide solace all appeared in vain. There were times when I seriously thought that I had all but lost him. I was afraid because of the cocoon he was getting himself in bode ill. I had nightmares of him, either going mad and consequently being confined to a mental asylum or of taking the extreme step of ending his life by committing suicide. One day out of the blue and to my utter disbelief he asked me to recommend him a psychiatrist to whom I promptly did. Since that day my friend has been constantly seeing the psychiatrist. In addition he takes active part in group therapy sessions and has started attending the local church services. According to him besides the medication, the venting of feelings in the group therapy sessions primarily it is the spiritual regeneration that has been instrumental in bringing into the mainstream (Gordon et al., 2011).
3.3 In conclusion, the support of family and friends, in particular and the support of the community, especially the church, and the health and social care workers and organizations, in general, all the combined endeavors are essential in supporting the individuals like Mrs. J, and my friend to successfully overcome significant life events.
Creating awareness about significant life events is the first and foremost activity to be undertaken to deal successfully with significant life events. This step is important both for organizations, groups, and individuals. It is recommended that people with good oratorical skills, in simple words people who can effectively get their point across, are needed at this stage.
Creating awareness must be followed by undertaking training. Unlike the first stage now at this stage experts and specialists in their respective fields are required. Expertize in the relevant field, for example qualified psychiatrists or highly trained nurses. Only specialists in their respective fields can help train individuals that are good enough to tackle life changing events and provide the support needed.
Mediums like T.V that are present in every home can be one the best way first to create awareness and then to educate personnel. The use of Internet is also highly recommended. The use of local FM radio stations is also a good source both to create awareness and to give important training. But it must never be forgotten that made-up scenarios are actual events are two very different experience. Taking part in real life changing situations can teach those opting to enter this specialized field some invaluable lessons.
The above are some sound recommendations that go a long way in helping those in need of support while undergoing the phases of life changing events. Groups and organizations are in essence composed of individuals basically so even if one individual is well trained during this process the chances are bright other group members and in the ultimate analysis the institutions or the organization will benefit.
References
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Note: The client’s complain about references is unreasonable. Why should I need to find other references when I have cited the the best possible references. Thank you.
