Mental Health - Widower Experience (WX)

Caregiving is about having the patience and empathy to help people in their most vulnerable states. Great caregiving respects and dignifies the lives people have built and lived, and strives to enrich their day-to-day experience wherever possible. Becoming a caregiver for others, for relatives, for your parents or your partner is rarely included on a person’s list of future-facing plans, but it occurs far more frequently than most realize.  When two people commit to spending their lives together, it’s a moment of celebration. They often envision settling into a home together, maybe growing a family, going on adventures, exploring shared passions and hobbies, and celebrating major milestones. But we all know where light there is also shadow. For myself it was a as a matter of course and was without discussion that I stand with my wife. But at the beginning I was not aware about the level of hyper-awareness that came and often comes with being a caregiver for your partner—managing he...

Mourning is never easy: however, by knowing, accepting and recognizing that mourning has different phases , you can and should become aware of all the effects and consequences that the loss and lack of a loved one can create within us.  During the 11 years of my wife's disease - she talked about her final step often, deeply and honest. And as designer I thought I can mitigate the pain and mourning. I have to admit it only worked in tiny tiny details. But thanks to my great family, connections and friendship circle I could take care on my self and prepare it. AND by all these open and honest talks my wife and I could prepare our families, connections and friends as well and vici versa. Awareness is essential to be able to better pass phases and steps of mourning one after another. One phase you can really prepare is the funeral and the ceremony.  Plan and talk about your funeral while you are alive I suggest and it is advisable to determine a document with instru...