What Is A Grief Care Package And Why Is It Needed

The past year has shown us just how important social interaction is and why we need to support each other. The pandemic forced us all to become more inventive with the ways we communicated, seeing as we couldn't see each other in person. While we are now back to being able to interact and hug one another, it doesn't mean that the thoughtful things we did have to stop. If you are looking to comfort someone who has lost a loved one and perhaps can't get to them as soon as you might like, it can be a good idea to create them a grief care package. Here we outline just what this entails.

What’s included with a grief care package?

A grief care package can be tailored to the person that is receiving it, with anything that you think might cheer them up or help them find comfort in their days of grief. Here are some examples of what you could include.

Food

When you have just lost a loved one, the last thing you feel like doing is cooking. Shopping and putting ingredients together can feel like an insurmountable task and that is why providing meals to those who are grieving can be a real help. You could bring over a meal or multiple meals, offer a gift card to a local supermarket, or buy some vouchers for an online food delivery service such as Uber Eats or Deliveroo. 

Gifts for the grieving

Another great grief care package idea is to give them something to provide comfort. A weighted blanket or cosy socks can seem like a small gesture but be like a hug from afar. You could give them a young tree to grow in memory of the loved one who has passed (such as a Memory Gift Tree), or send bath bombs, scented candles and creams that they can pamper themselves with. Think carefully about the person and what you think they would appreciate in this time of hardship.

Household items

As stated above, shopping during times of grief can feel like an impossible task and this doesn’t just apply to food, but to everyday items too. Why not add everyday household items to their care package that they might have run out of but not want to go out to the shop for? This could include paper towels, soap, laundry detergent or washing up liquid. Think of the items that you run out of most often and gift these.

Traditional gifts

Traditional gifts are also always well-received in a care package. This could be something such as a bunch of flowers, a box of chocolates or books that they can read. Accompany these with a card expressing your sympathies and think about what the recipient is most likely to be grateful for.

Memorial gifts 

If the person who passed was cremated, there are a host of different gifts you can purchase that relate to this. You could get a Living Urn tree pod burial and planting system, a certificate to make a piece of jewellery or diamond from some of the ashes, or you could pay for an ash scattering service. Find out through family members if this would be something they would appreciate and it could be a great gift that takes the pressure off the family of the one who has passed.

Donating to a special cause

Donating to a charity or cause is often appreciated as it can help others in the future. If the recipient’s loved one has passed away due to an illness such as cancer or MS for example, it can help to donate to these to help fund further research in the future. This has relevance to the person who has passed and can aid with future generations too.

When do you give a grief care package?

It is most common to give a grief care package within a few days of their loved one's passing. This is when grief is raw and fresh and they will be coming to terms with what has happened. The choice of when to give it is up to you and it can also be a nice gesture to do it some time after they have passed. The grief that is associated with losing someone doesn't end within a few days, weeks or months and reminding the person that you are there for them can be a real help when they are feeling low.