Grieving is a natural part of the human experience. In 1969, pioneering psychiatrist Elizabeth Kubler-Ross identified five stages of grief—denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance—in her book On Death and Dying. Her work has become an integral part of end-of-life care for terminally ill patients and their families. Often, older adults will go through these same stages as they process their own losses or anticipate their own mortality. Here are some tips on how to walk an older adult through the steps of grieving identified by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross:

1) Acknowledge: Acknowledging that someone is grieving can be difficult but it is important in order to provide support and understanding during this time. Being present with them in whatever capacity they need (listening without judgment or offering physical comfort) can help them process these emotions more efficiently. It may also be helpful to remind them that all emotions are valid no matter what stage of grief they’re in or have gone through already.