Mourning: A Basic Human Need

When you think about basic human needs, things like food, air, sleep, and shelter likely come to mind. No doubt, we all need those things. However, there are dozens of other needs we share, no matter our culture, age, gender, upbringing, or any other distinction. A few examples of these include trust, joy, to be heard, companionship, understanding, acceptance, respect, relaxation, and contribution. To mourn is also one of our basic human needs, one that is all too familiar to those working in post-acute and long-term care.