Coping with Ambiguous Loss

When someone dies, we have rituals to mourn their passing and accept that they are gone. We do not have the same rituals for losses in which the person may be physically absent but still living (such as disappearances or separation due to immigration, incarceration, or divorce) or physically present but emotionally or mentally changed (in part due to dementia, Alzheimer’s, or the loss of mobility and independence). These kinds of losses – in which there is no real closure or resolution – are known as “ambiguous losses.”

In this discussion, Betsy Englander, Mental Health and Wellness Engagement Manager at Jewish Family and Children’s Service, will help participants gain a deeper understanding of ambiguous loss and learn tips and techniques for facing these losses in themselves and others.

RSVP requested. Please stop by the Front Desk at Brigham House, 20 Hartford Street, or call 617-796-1675. Or send your name, telephone number, and email address to our receptionists at seniorprograms@newtonma.gov