Coping with the death of a loved one is always difficult, but when a senior loses a spouse, his or her adult children may have to worry about their parent’s mental well-being. Aside from being concerned about their ability to move on, family caregivers often have to address the feelings of loneliness that come with the loss of a spouse, so it’s important to recognize some of the personality changes that may accompany a spouse’s death.

Spending time with an older parent after the death of their husband or wife may be a bit more difficult in the immediate aftermath. He or she may exhibit unusually high levels of grumpiness or unhappiness, and that’s certainly understandable. However, if they begin to show signs of depression it may be time to consider steps to address the issue.

For starters, family caregivers might want to encourage their parent to spend time with their friends or other family members. Not only can it help stave off loneliness, but they can also act as a support group.

Adult children may also want to look into the benefits of companionship care. Typically used for otherwise healthy older adults, companionship care providers can offer anything from friendly conversation to medication management assistance.