The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and the National Hospice Foundation have some suggestions for how to help loved ones through what may be a difficult time. See the link for their full list of suggestions, but here are a few that might help initially.
- Be supportive of the way the person chooses to handle the holidays. Some may wish to follow traditions; others may choose to change their rituals. Remember, there is no right way or wrong way to handle the holidays.
- Offer to help the person with baking and/or cleaning. Both tasks can be overwhelming for one trying to deal with raw emotions.
- Offer to help with holiday shopping or give your loved one catalogs or on-line shopping sites that may be helpful.
- Remind the person you are thinking of him or her and the loved one who died. Cards, phone calls, and visits are great ways to stay in touch.