Grief is the recognition that we loved someone and the nature of our relationship with that person determines how we grieve. Grief is an exclusive process; one that is as different as the person experiencing it. As Hospice volunteers we must respect each person's individual grieving practices and refuse to give in to the temptation to advise others to follow the same paths as us. While those of us who have experienced such loss can sympathize with the feelings of others, we must be mindful of the fact that they are mourning the loss of a relationship that was exclusively theirs. As Hospice volunteers, we must consider this exclusivity and refrain from persisting in having the bereaved grieve in any way other than what is best for them. With this in mind, I have information that can help you understand the grieving processes at various stages of life. Through this understanding, you will be able to help your family and loved ones, as well as your dying patient, achieve a more peaceful death. Let us first consider adults and bereavement. Here the relationship with the deceased is a primary factor in the mourning process. When parents experience the loss of a child, it is considered the “most difficult of deaths” (Leming & Dickinson, 2011, p. 492). The cycle of life dictates that the oldest die first. When this cycle is interrupted with the death of a child, adults are not prepared for the death. Hope for the future is threatened within the family and thoughts of what should have been and what we will miss persist. Mothers will talk more about the death while fathers will keep busy with homework in an attempt to avoid expressing their feelings (Leming & Dickinson, 2011, p. 492). There may be marital disagreements like… middle of paper… to provide more personalized end-of-life care. There are no right or wrong ways to deal with grief and death, however, through compassion, care and understanding, there are ways to help those involved in achieving resolution of grief. Works Cited Bougere, M.H. (n.d.). Culture, pain and mourning: applications for clinical practice. Retrieved from Minority Nurse: http://www.minoritynurse.com/culture-grief-and-bereavement-applications-clinical-practiceLeming, M. R. & Dickinson, G. E. (2011). Understanding death, dying, and bereavement (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.The Jason Program. (n.d.). The grief process at different ages. Retrieved from Partnership for Parents: http://www.partnershipforparents.org/guide/?itemid=10P.G.White. (2009). Loss of an adult sibling. Retrieved from The Sibling Connection: http://counselingstlouis.net/page22.html