Guidebook on Helping Persons with Mental Retardation Mourn

by Jeffrey Kauffman

Overview

The book contributes to an awareness of the significance of loss in the life experience of persons with mental retardation. Experiencing loss may be a very powerful vulnerability in their mental or psychological life, and dealing with this loss is a basic element in psychological health. There has been an enormous hole in the death and dying literature and in the mental retardation literature on the mourning behavior and needs of persons with mental retardation. This book fills that hole, and lays a foundation for grief support services, establishes standards of practice and care, and is an educational primer about the loss and mourning needs of persons with mental retardation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781351865494
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	03/02/2017
Series:	Death, Value and Meaning Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	142
File size:	614 KB

About the Author

Jeffrey Kauffman

Table of Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

CHAPTER 1: Loss is At the Heart of Life: A General Introduction to Grief and the Practice of Helping Persons Who are Mourning
The Person Who Gives Grief Support
Knowledge of the Grief of Others
The Caregivers Awareness of His or Her Own Mortality
The Very Psychological Development of the Self is a Process of Mourning Losses
Supporting the Mourning Process of Others
Recognizing Grief and Facilitating the Mourning Process
Recognizing Grief is the Basic Supportive Response to Grief
Grief is a Disturbance
Recognize the Diverse Kinds of Loss Experience that Occur in the Lives of Persons with Mental Retardation

CHAPTER 2: Guidelines for Supporting and Facilitating the Mourning Process
The Aim of the Supportive Environment is to Facilitate the Mourning Process
When a Death Happens: General Guidelines
Does a Person with Mental Retardation Understand Death?
Breaking the News of a Death
Begin with an Assessment
Acceptance, Affirmation, and Validation of Grief
Symbolization
Facilitate Active and Maximum Participation in Social Experience of the Loss and Facilitate Activities for the Person to Experience the Loss
Support the Adaptation Needs of the Grieving Person
Preparation for the Death of a Primary Family Caregiver
Teachable Moments
Anniversaries and Holiday: Personal Memorial Days
Lois
The Collaborative Relationship between Grief Counselor/Therapist and Agency or Family
Grief Support Interventions for a Residence
What to Do When a Peer is Dying
Intense Grief Disrupts a Residence

CHAPTER 3: The Language of Grief in Persons with Mental Retardation
Introduction to the Behavioral Language of Grief
Nicholas
Doris
Jamie
Perry

CHAPTER 4: Psychological Concerns and Complications
Introduction to Psychological Concerns and Complications
Compulsivity, Perseveration, and Ritualization: Preventing Change
Harold
Dependence/Attachment
Chad
Ambivalence
Hank
Aggression, Anger, Hatred, Revenge, Indifference, Paranoia, etc.: Death as an Accusation
Betty
Caroline
Sarah
Jimmy
Somatization
Milo
Self-Loathing, Self-Directed Anger, Guilt, Shame, and Other Attacks of the Self.
Mark
Phillip
Manny
Jason
Chronic Low-Level Anxiety as Narcissistic Grief
Donna
Thoughts on the Relation of Complications in the Grief of Persons with Mental Retardation to Psychodynamics of Grief in all Persons

CHAPTER 5: Program Development: The Creation of a Grief Supportive Community
Guidelines for Agencies
Introduction: Preparation for Responding to Losses
Agency Loss Team
Agency Self-Assessment of Loss Experiences
Client Loss Assessment
Supporting Staff as a Way of Cultivating an Agency Climate of Grief Support
Staff Turnover
The Beginning Phase of the Helping Relationship
The Middle Phase of the Helping Relationship
The Termination Phase of the Helping Relationship ,br> Staff Training Programs
Placement: Crisis and Process
The Crisis of Placement
Meg
The Placement Process, as a Policy of Residential Agencies
Aging and Illness
Client Education
Families

CHAPTER 6: Experience in a Grief Group

REFERENCES Not Cited in Text on Mourning and Mental Retardation

Index

About the Author

What People are Saying About This

John Nicely

"Jeffrey Kauffman's insights and clinical skills have had a profound effect on our agency's approach to supporting the persons we serve. He has helped us recognize the power and influence of grief and loss in the lives of people with developmental disabilities, which in turn has improved our ability to be sensitive to how grief manifests in behavior, emotional expression, and interpersonal relationships. Working with Mr. Kauffman as a consultant, trainer, and individual therapist in the past, we have incorporated a number of his concepts into our program design and clinical interventions, and we look forward to making good use of the eagerly awaited Guidebook."
—MSW, Director, Residential Service Systems, Ardmore, Pennsylvania

Robert Kastenbaum

"Intelligent, informed, and compassionate, this book makes a distinctive contribution to families, friends, and counselors who realize that mentally retarded people are not spared the pain and stress of grief."
—PhD, Professor Emeritus, Hugh Downs School of Human Communications, Arizona State University

Kenneth J. Doka

"Jeffrey Kauffman has to be commended for meeting the needs of an underserved and disenfranchised population of grieving persons. The Guidebook is both theoretically sound and eminently practical, and a real gift to the fields of developmental disabilities and thanatology."
—PhD, Professor, The College of New Rochelle, Senior Consultant, The Hospice Foundation of America

James W. Conroy

"This book should be in every service provider's library. It will teach caregivers at all levels of responsibility concrete approaches to a sadly neglected, yet absolutely crucial aspect of the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. It really is a beautiful piece of work. What a contribution!"
—PhD, CEO, Center for Outcome Analysis, Havertown, Pennsylvania

Editorial Reviews

4 Stars! from Doody

Reviewer: Nicholas Greco IV, MS, BCETS, CATSM, FAAETS (C3 Education and Research, Inc.)
Description: This welcome addition to the field of mental health provides the reader with specialized information regarding counseling and support for persons with mental retardation.
Purpose: The purpose is to provide mental health professionals, families, advocates, academics, grief counselors, therapists, and theorists with the knowledge to understand the complexity of grief in the mentally retarded individual. The book successfully provides a foundation for grief support services, standards and guidelines of care, and sheds needed light on the importance of grief and mourning in human beings who just happen to be mentally retarded. This book exceeds its objectives and truly fulfills an unmet need and promotes necessary awareness.
Audience: This book does not cater to any one person or group nor is it weighted down by unnecessary jargon. Therefore, it is an excellent book for not only the mental health professional, but more importantly the family and various caregivers of those with mental retardation. The author is credible and brings forth a very heartfelt book that captures the reader's attention and awareness.
Features: Undoubtedly, the standout feature are the case examples throughout the chapters which go beyond illustrating the information and truly grab at one's emotions. As would be expected, general information on grieving and loss is provided, but more important are the chapters on the framework and guidelines for working with mental retardation, the interpretation of grief, and the psychological concerns. Guidelines for agencies and creating a grief supportive community round out the information.
Assessment: I am extremely impressed by this book and the author's willingness to share so much invaluable information with the reader. This is truly a subject which has been overlooked for an underserved and sometimes forgotten population. Kudos to Jeffrey Kauffman.

Doody's Review Service