Bereavement support

People with developmental disability can experience grief, including atypical and prolonged grief, following the death of family or significant others (eg friends, carers, pets) or other significant life change; however, their grief is often minimised, or goes unrecognised and unsupported. Understanding the person’s concept of death or loss can improve interaction and communication around the loss; strategies to facilitate this are discussed in Advance care planning and Communicating with people with developmental disability.

It may be difficult for a person with developmental disability to play an active role in restoring changes the loss has caused (eg to care structures, financial and accommodation set-ups), which might otherwise help them adjust. General principles of bereavement support apply, with relevant adjustments as needed (eg easy to read information). For more advice, see Bereavement support for adults and Bereavement support for children.

Bereavement counselling by trained counsellors, psychiatrists and allied health professionals can improve mental health for adults with intellectual disability. Informal supports (eg remembrance rituals, cemetery visits) can help the individual to maintain a connection to the memory of a loved one.

When severe symptoms of grief are evident more than a few months after a loss, assess the person for bereavement-related depression, anxiety or other psychiatric condition (see Depression and other complications). See also advice on managing depression in people with developmental disability.