# data[].attributes.headline
Development of Session 5: Grief Loss and Isolation

# data[].attributes.subject
Development of Session 5: Grief Loss and Isolation

# data[].attributes.body
In the development of the grief, loss, and isolation teaching module, I understood that this would be a difficult topic. The needs of the congregation indicated that many had suffered grief as a result of losing a spouse or close loved one recently, and that the COVID-19 Pandemic had made them feel isolated and alone.  I knew I wanted to put a great deal of effort into this session because of a) the serious nature of the content and b) the need for the congregation members to have coping techniques and resources available to them to help them cope during this difficult time in their lives.

I formulated a PowerPoint teaching the congregants about the ability to recognize loss, grief, and isolation in their own lives and what physical and mental effects these have on the body. I walked through available resources for them in the community and coping techniques. I also created accompanying activities. I created an independent grief activity, which was a checklist where participants checked off grief experiences they've had in their lifetime. The point of this activity was for the congregants to realize that grief is not just something experienced by death of a loved one. Grief can be different person to person, and should not be compared as it is subjective.
I also created an activity where they could write "Letters to Loved Ones". Throughout the presentation, there were pauses for discussions as a group on questions I wrote. Last, I created a "Warm Fuzzy" activity where everyone could anonymously write compliment cards to one another so that they could read these cards in the future when they felt lonely or down. Additionally, a good portion of my presentation was dedicated to resources for grief and isolation.
This presentation took me a long time to put together. Just for the resources portion, I put a total of 3-4 hours into it. I really wanted to find resources that the congregants would be interested in and be of use to them. I had not realized in the development of even a standalone session that a great deal of time can go into it! I thought it would take me 2 hours tops to create the whole session. However, all in all, it took me around 7-8.

# data[].attributes.headline
Personal Thoughts and Feelings on Session 5

# data[].attributes.subject
Personal Thoughts and Feelings on Session 5

# data[].attributes.body
While I did act as faciliator for discussion and education on this session, I did not realize what this experience would mean to me personally. As participants described what they went through and their feelings with the COVID-19 Pandemic, I did not realize how much I personally had "lost" during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
This session, especially the discussions that congregants had with one another and with us, was one of the most powerful conversations I've ever had. To have 8 strangers share thoughts and experiences on grief, loss, and isolation was very special and something I'll never forget. This experience made me really appreciate the struggles the age group 65+ face in general, never mind during a pandemic. It has made me realize the importance of groups in occupational therapy, and ignited a new passion for me to work with the geriatric population whereas before I really only ever wanted to work with kids.
I realized maybe this is something I want to do in the future: helping the elderly make social relationships and help in grief processes specifically. This could be something I focus on in the OT field, or even outside of it like volunteering.

# data[].attributes.body
A series of things went well for my session. First, the discussions were amazingly insightful. Participants were able to relate to one another in their experiences of grief. They were also able to discuss openly what they had learned from the PowerPoint presentation as they went along. For example, they spoke about experiences of anticipatory grief they experienced and complicated grief using the terminology used in the PowerPoint. In addition, congregants recommended techniques they used to cope with grief that expanded upon what was not in the PowerPoint.

In addition, the participants loved the resources sheet. All seemed very eager about the Worcester Senior Center especially. All said they would try to go, as they did not realize until that session that the Worcester Senior centered was a) free b) so close to them and c) offered so many activities.

At the end, I had 3 congregants remark how helpful and well done the presentation was so that made me really excited as I had put a lot of time and effort into it. The congregants even stayed past the time the session was over to ask more questions about the resources and say that they would definitely try these. One said that he did not even realize the help and information he needed on grief and especially isolation until he came, which made me happy to hear.

I’m really happy that we were able to facilitate a warm and welcoming environment where everyone felt comfortable discussing these things.

# data[].attributes.body
Right before the “Letters to Loved One” activities, I told the congregants that if they did not want to complete this activity they did not have to. One of the congregants expressed to me that this activity would be too difficult for him, and others did as well. After understanding the tones and feelings in the room, I instead told them that this activity could be completed at home, and they did not have to do that today. Part of me is a little mad at myself, because looking because I got so engrossed in making the best grief activities that I did not consider that some just might be too difficult to complete. My intention was not to get anyone upset or resurrect bad feelings. I am happy that I was able to switch gears so quickly and we seamlessly transitioned into the next activity. I was nervous that in the end, people would come up to me and mention it, but no one seemed upset by it at all, and it was like it did not even happen. I think it is one of those things that I made a bigger deal in my head because I created the session, whereas the participants did not think much of it.

In addition, I did not account for as much discussion time. I had to skip the last activity I created “Warm Fuzzies” because discussions lasted way longer than I thought they would. For some reason, I did not think the congregants would want to express and speak about their experiences with grief and isolation. I put so many activities in because I thought they would not want to talk about it, but the opposite seemed to be true. No one even knew this was activity other than the program implementers, so it worked out. However, I am happy I could make little adjustments here and there so that the discussions could last longer. I learned from this session that discussion about these difficult topics has more therapeutic value overall than activities. People uniting in their grief and loss experiences makes them feel less alone. In the future, I will account for this and make a “looser” structure that is driven by grief discussion rather than activities.

# data[].attributes.headline
Changes That Could Be Implemented to Increase Efficiency and Understanding of The Session

# data[].attributes.subject
Changes That Could Be Implemented to Increase Efficiency and Understanding of The Session

# data[].attributes.body
In the future, I will take away 2 activities ("Warm Fuzzies" and "Letter To Love Ones") and put more discussion slides in. While my group touched upon a lot in the session, in the future I will come up with more stimulating discussion questions to disperse throughout my presentation. I underestimated the power and therapeutic value in conversation in groups about grief in the development of this session. A huge reason why programs Like Alcoholics Anonymous and Gambler's Anonymous work is because people connect and unite in their struggles, which I think the same themes are at play in these sessions. Being with a group of other lonely and bereaved people can make others feel less alone, and opens the way for friendships. In the future, I would make this session specifically less structured to allow for more participant driven discussion on what they are going through.