Assignment:
In order to be effective in providing services to a person who is experiencing loss and grief in response to a visual impairment, we need to able to recognize the stages of grieving, understand the dynamics, and have strategies to support the person and help him/her or her move forward. This discussion is designed to help you do so.
Select two of the phases of adjustment to visual impairment described in the Tuttle and Tuttle text, and respond to the following prompts:
1. What might you expect to see and hear from a person during this phase of adjustment?
2. How would factors such as type of visual impairment, life stage, personality and social support impact on this stage of adjustment?
3. How might concomitant losses be a factor in this stage?
4. How might you in your professional role as well as the person’s social support network assist the individual to move through this phase of adjustment?
You may also draw on the stages of grief developed by Elizabeth Kubler Ross to support your response.
The students response:
RE: Phase Two: Shock and Denial
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- What might you expect to see and hear from a person during this phase of adjustment?
” I can’t believe this is happening to me” or “I’m too shocked to feel anything” or “This isnt actually happening”
- How would factors such as type of visual impairment, life stage, personality and social support impact on this stage of adjustment?
This phase is especially prevalent in young people who would never expect to be losing their vision at this age. If a person is particularly religious, sometimes they may be in such strong denial they believe that God is going to fix their vision and work a miracle. This can be especially hard if the individual has a social group that is also in denial about the vision loss.
- How might concomitant losses be a factor in this stage?
They may deny other aspects of loss as well. If there is not gentle intervention, a person can spiral into denying a lot- and it could become a dangerous situation.
- How might you in your professional role as well as the person’s social support network assist the individual to move through this phase of adjustment?
It is important to give you client hope for a fufilling life with their visual impairment, as opposed to hope of a miraculous recovery. It is important to be firm but gentle with a client who is in denial about their vision loss.
Phase Three: Mourning and Withdrawal
Top of Form
- What might you expect to see and hear from a person during this phase of adjustment?
“Leave me alone” or “Nobody understands”
- How would factors such as type of visual impairment, life stage, personality and social support impact on this stage of adjustment?
This phase affects the person’s social situation greatly. They feel as though they need to isolate themselves, whether it be because they are angry at the world or because they feel they are a burden to their loved ones. If a person feels lonely easily or is a natural extrovert, this stage can be especially difficult for them. They miss being around people, but they also want to be left alone. I think this stage is particularly harmful for the elderly, as they are already prone to loneliness or isolation due to their age.
- How might concomitant losses be a factor in this stage?
The concomitant feeling of loneliness and mental health struggles will soon follow isolation. Being in a bad place mentally is going to make the grieving process much more difficult and harder to get out of. This is why having a good social support is so important.
- How might you in your professional role as well as the person’s social support network assist the individual to move through this phase of adjustment?
The most important thing that a professional can do is actively listen to their client and make an extra effort to plan events or activities that foster a positive relationship with the client and community.
