Acts of Kindness for People Who Are Grieving

Everyone processes grief in their own way — some people prefer to keep to themselves, while others need the support of loved ones. Actions like small gestures or acts of kindness go a long way when someone is dealing with grief and can be an effective way to show that you care about them. Acts of kindness can come in many forms and show that you are there for them during this difficult time. It also helps them heal on their own terms and at their own pace.

Acts of kindness don’t have to be grand, expensive, or take a lot of time — they can be as simple as making a cup of tea and listening to someone. There are so many small things you can do that will bring peace and help someone who is hurting. Concrete action shows the person you care about them and their feelings.

If you know someone who is going through the loss of a loved one, here are some of acts of kindness that can help them during their time of grief:

Offer to Help with Practical Tasks

There are so many practical tasks that need to be done when someone passes away. The grieving person may be in no mental or physical state to do any of those tasks on their own. If they’re at a loss for what to do, you can offer to do something helpful, like take care of their laundry, help select clothes for the burial, cancel or change appointments, shop for groceries, or mow their lawn. Don’t be afraid to ask what they need. Sometimes they just don’t know what they want or need. If that’s the case, offer something specific. For example, instead of asking, “Can I help with anything?” say, “I will pick up your laundry on Wednesday.”

Take Care of Their Pet/s

If the grieving person owns pets, they may not be able to take care of their pets at the moment. You can help immensely by taking care of their pet(s) until they are ready to do so again. You can offer to take care of their fur babies at your home or theirs, depending on which they are most comfortable. If you aren’t sure about taking on such a large responsibility, there are plenty of pet hotels/kennels and organizations that can help you out. They may even have a discounted program for those who are helping out a friend.

Bring Food

Bringing food to a friend who just lost a loved one can be a fantastic way to show that you care. When people are grieving the last thing they may want to do is think about food or cooking. If you need ideas on what to bring, consider bringing over some comfort meals like mac and cheese, pot roast, or a casserole. You could make a double portion and they can have one to eat and one to freeze for a later meal. Consider bringing breakfast foods, like pancakes that can be frozen and heated when desired. Quick lunches, such as sandwiches, salads, or wraps are a great idea. Make sure to ask about any allergies or foods that they would like to avoid. If you do not like to cook or the person lives too far away, you can order food and have it delivered or send a gift card for their favorite restaurant.

Help Clean and Organize the House

If a friend recently lost someone and things are getting really hectic, acts of kindness such as offering to help them clean or organize the house may be very welcome. You can organize the house by bringing order where there is none. You can sort through mail and organize it into junk mail, bills, and personal correspondence. These documents can be sorted into a file folder or filing system. Click here or here for ideas of possible filing systems. Another area that might need organization is their dresser or closets. Swapping out clothes based on the changing seasons or simply folding or hanging clothes that were tossed aside could help alleviate stress. The same could be true about cleaning and organizing the kitchen and putting things away. Picking up books, magazines, and toys is another task that could add order to a home. Whenever you’re helping someone, remember that their house and their belongings are just as important and special to them as they are to you. If you aren’t sure how to organize their things, don’t be afraid to ask.

Dispose of Medication or Medical Equipment

Many times, when a loved one dies, they leave behind medication or medical equipment that was being used for their care. This can be especially true if they were ill for a period of time. Prescription medication should not be flushed down the toilet or thrown in the trash. Rather, it can be disposed of at local pharmacies (such as CVS), hospitals, and police stations. There is a National Drug Take Back Day every year. Click here to find the date in your area. Used and unused medical equipment can be donated to family and friends, or various charitable organizations or sold in person or online.

Charitable organizations that may take used, gently used and new equipment include:

• Good Will
• Kids Mobility Network
• Vietnam Veterans of America Organizations
• Project C.U.R.E.
• MS Society
• Local Home Health Agency
• Partners in Health
• Hospice
• American Red Cross
• Salvation Army
• Local Churches
• Joni and Friends
• Local Veterans Homes

Sell used, gently used, and new equipment in the following locations:

• Craigslist
• OfferUp
• Decluttr
• Newspaper Classifieds
• LetGo
• NextDoor
• eBay
• Facebook Marketplace
• Local Garage Sales

Help them celebrate the lives of the person/people they’ve lost

If you have a friend or family member who lost someone close to them, you can help them mourn their loved one by helping them celebrate the person’s life. You can ask them about the person who passed away and what they were like. You can help them celebrate the lives of the people they lost in a number of ways, including:

• Organizing a get-together with their friends and loved ones
• Coming up with a way to celebrate and remember the person they lost
• Bringing food that the person they lost would have liked
• Doing something that the person who passed away enjoyed
• Buying or creating something they can use to remember the loved one they lost
• Creating a scrapbook or journal where they can write down their thoughts and feelings about their loved one
• Making a video tribute or slideshow of the person who passed away

Help them organize a memorial or funeral

If their loved one recently passed, you can help a friend organize a memorial service or funeral. This can be an extremely difficult time for your friend or loved one. You can help them by coming up with ideas, asking them what they need, and being there for them during this stressful time. If you don’t know what to do or how you can help, just ask them. You can offer to drive loved ones to the funeral or memorial service or pick up out of town friends from the airport or train station. What about organizing food for a gathering after the funeral service. Or offering to help clean up after the gathering or offer your home as a place to meet. Let them know that you want to do something to show that you care for them and their loved one who died. They may not know what they want or need and may appreciate your help with coming up with ideas.

Conclusion

When someone you care about experiences a loss, it can be helpful to know that there are things you can do to help them with their grief. The best way to help someone is by being there for them. By being present and listening to them, they will know that they are loved and supported. Remember that grief is a personal journey. Each person processes their grief on their own terms and at their own pace. You don’t have to do everything on this list, and you don’t have to do it in any certain order. You can do whatever you feel comfortable with and know that it will still make a big difference. Any acts of kindness will be appreciated!