New Courage to Move Forward Initiative Strives to Educate and Inform

The Baltimore County Department of Aging has developed a Courage To Move Forward Initiative for 2008.  The department’s initiative is in response to the fact older adults often have many major losses within a short period of time to face. For example, older adults may have to face the loss of their spouse or best friend, their financial security or job, their home, their physical well-being, and their social contacts.

Grief is an emotional reaction to a significant loss. The words sorrow and heartache are often used to describe feelings of grief. Whether the loss involves a beloved person, animal, place, or object, or a valued way of life (such as a job, marriage, or good health), some level of grief will naturally follow. Grieving is a personal experience. Depending on the individual and the nature of the loss, the process of grieving will be different from another person's experience. There is no "normal and expected" period of time for grieving. Some people adjust to a new life within several weeks or months. Others take a year or more, particularly when their daily life has been radically changed or their loss was traumatic and unexpected.

A wide range of feelings and symptoms are common during grieving. While feeling shock, numbness, sadness, anger, guilt, anxiety, or fear, people may also find moments of relief, peace, or happiness. While grieving is not simply sadness, “the blues,” or depression, individuals may become depressed or overly anxious during the grieving process. Although it may be possible to postpone grieving, it is not possible to avoid grieving altogether. If life circumstances make it difficult for a person to stop, feel, and live through the grieving process, one can expect grief to eventually erupt sometime in the future. In the meantime, unresolved grief can affect quality of life and relationships with others.

While social support, good self-care, and the passage of time are good  medicine, creating an awareness of the various issues of grief and loss is another way individuals can prepare to work through a personal loss or to assist a friend or family member.

Calendar of Support Throughout Year

To help educate and inform older adults, caregivers and professionals in Baltimore County, the Department of Aging is sponsoring a year-long series on loss and grief. Each month, a unique aspect of this issue is highlighted and presented by knowledgeable speakers in the field.  The following organizations have partnered with the department for this valuable initiative:  the Hospice of Baltimore, Baltimore County Volunteers, PEERS, the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy and the Baltimore County Guardianship program.

Topics will include general information about hospice, gender differences in grief, future planning, coping with the holidays and life's transitions, spiritual aspects of loss and advanced directives. Presentations will be held in each of Baltimore County's 19 senior centers.

Revised November 5, 2007