Losing a spouse is a traumatic experience. Helping a parents deal with such trauma can be very difficult as well. Consider some of the following suggestions:

Acceptance--Be accepting and supportive of the person your parent becomes in the wake of this devastating loss. Support him or her in new ventures and new friendships. Your parent must find a new way to live, and build a new life for themselves.

Decisions--Let your parent decide when and how to dispose of the deceased's clothing and personal items. Some may not be ready to do this right away. Others may want to get it over with almost as soon as they get home from the funeral.

Family Traditions--Let your family traditions change and evolve to fit your family's new structure. Do not force things that do not work without the deceased, or that are exceptionally painful without them.

Independence--Help your parent be independent. Teach him or her to do something that the deceased used to do. This could be anything from balancing the checkbook to maintaining the car to cooking.

Major Decisions--Encourage your parent to delay making major decisions--such as selling a home or moving to a new part of the country--for at least one year after the death. Discourage other major financial decisions as well.

Money--Your parent may be tempted to loan money to family or friends. Help them resist this urge, at least until they have a better understanding of their new financial circumstances.

New Life--Encourage your parent to make a new life for themselves. Encourage him or her to make new friends, take up new activities, and find new focus in life.

Talking--Talk about the deceased parent. Tell stories, and bring up his or her name often. Talking about the person keeps the memories alive and helps the healing process.

Telephone--Call your parent frequently, and make sure they feel comfortable calling you more often. A surviving parent may become very dependent on his or her children for communication and companionship.