Communication and creativity
As previously discussed, the majority
of people with learning disabilities have some form of communication difficulty.
This means that staff need to be creative in the design of activities chosen
to help individuals work through their bereavement. People of all abilities
experience bereavement and it is important that staff tailor their approaches
to the individual's needs, abilities and interests. The activities outlined
below are not an exhaustive list, but are intended to provide some ideas that
may be developed and adapted by staff supporting people with learning disabilities
who have experienced bereavement.
Media
Television, radio, and video can
all be effective ways of engaging individuals and groups in discussion about
their thoughts and feelings. This can then be developed into a discussion about
individual thoughts and feelings surrounding death. Using media in this way
can help people with learning disabilities to explore their own thoughts and
feelings in a safe way. This may involve listening to a poem or a story and
thinking about the emotions one of the characters may have felt following the
death of a loved one. Additionally, television programmes can teach individuals
about the process and associated rituals surrounding death and bereavement.
Although there are many benefits to using television programmes in this way,
it is important to remember that they may send confusing messages to some individuals,
It is not uncommon to see an actor die in one programme only to see the same
person apparently alive and well in a programme on another channel. For individuals
who are visually impaired, recordings of radio plays or talking books may be
used in the same way as television or video.
| Example One: Making use of
television A hospital T. V drama may show someone having an illness and then dying. Watching the programme and then discussing its contents can be useful to explore individual feelings. Additionally, it may also be used as a way of helping to prepare someone for what may happen if a relative was terminally ill. For some, the activity may be used to help them appreciate the feelings and emotions experienced by others. This can help them to understand how their friend at the Day Centre may be feeling following the death of his mother. |
Music
Music is another way of helping people
to identify and explore emotions and feelings. People may like to be helped
to make tapes of songs or music that brings back memories of their loved one,
or to create a tape that can be used to help them relax when they are finding
things difficult. Music is accessible to everyone and can be used with people
of all abilities. Some individuals may be unable to provide information about
the kind of music they like. In this case, when compiling tapes, family members
could be approached about the type of music (or music associated with particular
television programmes) enjoyed at home by the family.
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