Written by the Care Team at Hospall Homecare — Providing compassionate home and community care across York Region

Grief touches every life at some point. Whether it’s the loss of someone we love, a change in health or independence, or the quiet loss of a familiar routine, grief is not just an emotion — it’s an experience that affects our whole being. At Hospall Homecare, we have the honour of walking alongside families during some of life’s most tender moments, and we believe that open conversations about grief can reduce isolation and bring gentle comfort.

What Is Grief? More Than Sadness

Grief is a natural emotional, physical, and spiritual response to loss. While many associate grief only with death, it can also arise from other life changes — a move, declining health, retirement, distance from loved ones, or a loss of independence.

There is no weakness in grief. In fact, our ability to grieve is a reflection of our ability to love.

We All Grieve Differently

One of the most essential truths about grief is this: there is no single “right” way to grieve.

  • There is no proper timeline.
  • People move back and forth between emotions.
  • Some express grief openly, while others process quietly and internally.
  • Two people in the same family may grieve in entirely different ways — and both are valid.

Our role as care providers, loved ones, or friends is not to correct grief, but to create room for it.

Why Understanding the Stages Can Help

The Elisabeth Kübler-Ross model — often referred to as the “Five Stages of Grief” — was never meant to be a strict checklist. Instead, it offers language for feelings many people experience:

  • Denial – “This can’t be happening.”
  • Anger – Frustration, injustice, blame.
  • Bargaining – “If only I had…”
  • Depression – Deep sadness, fatigue, disconnection.
  • Acceptance – Beginning to adjust to life with the loss.

People may revisit stages or skip some entirely — this is completely normal.

A Wider View of the Grieving Experience

Many people also recognize four broader phases as they reflect on their journey:

  1. Shock and Numbness — The body and mind protect us from feeling everything at once.
  2. Yearning and Searching — The “if only” thinking and desire to return life to how it was.
  3. Disorganization and Despair — Realizing life has changed permanently.
  4. Reorganization and Healing — Slowly finding new meaning, new connection, and new rhythms.

Grief may soften over time, but it doesn’t disappear — instead, life grows around it.

Emotional and Physical Effects of Grief

Grief affects more than emotions — the body carries grief too.

Common emotional responses:

Sadness, guilt, anger, loneliness, anxiety, numbness, and in some cases—even relief. Relief can be especially confusing when someone has suffered for a long time, and it is a valid emotional response.

Common physical responses:

Fatigue, disrupted sleep, reduced appetite, headaches, “brain fog,” muscle tension, lowered immunity, chest heaviness, or a sense that breathing feels different.

Not everyone connects these symptoms to grief, but acknowledging them helps us approach the body with compassion.

Healthy Ways to Cope and Honour Grief

There is no way to rush grief — but there are ways to walk through it with care:

  • Speak your feelings out loud — even if only to yourself.
  • Write, draw, pray, journal, or create something in honour of your loved one.
  • Light a candle, plant a tree, frame a photo — small rituals can provide great comfort.
  • Stay connected to safe people — grief often feels isolating, but connection is healing.
  • Care for your body — gentle movement, hydration, regular meals, and rest are deeply supportive.
  • Take time in nature — fresh air and green space can be grounding for the nervous system.

Simple acts of care, repeated steadily, can create moments of peace in the midst of pain.

When Support Matters Most

It is okay to say, “I’m not okay right now.” Asking for help is not a burden — it is an act of wisdom.

Consider reaching out for additional support if you notice:

  • Persistent sadness or hopelessness
  • Inability to carry out daily tasks
  • Withdrawal from life or relationships
  • Thoughts of harm

Support may come from family, peer groups, spiritual communities, or professional grief counsellors. No one needs to walk this road alone.

Our Commitment at Hospall Homecare

At Hospall Homecare, we believe that care is not only clinical — it’s deeply human. When we support families, we do so with the understanding that care and grief often coexist.

Whether through gentle companionship, respite support, emotional check-ins, or simply being a reassuring presence in the home, our care team is here to walk alongside you and those you love.

You Don’t Have to Carry Grief Alone

If you or a loved one is navigating grief at home, we are here to support you with compassion, respect, and dignity.

Hospall Homecare

šŸ“ž 905-539-0309

šŸ“§ info@hospall.com

šŸŒ www.hospall.com

 

Written by the Care Team at Hospall Homecare — Serving York Region and surrounding communities with compassionate home and community care.