Bereavement: helping a patient with a learning disability to cope.

Our case study is of a 55-year-old man who has a moderate learning disability. He has been diagnosed as having bipolar disorder and is currently in remission. At Christmas six years ago while Dave Croft was on home leave from an NHS unit, his father died suddenly. His mother, acting in what she felt were Mr Croft's best interests, arranged the funeral and did not inform her son until after the ceremony had taken place. Mr Croft appeared to have adjusted to his loss, until November 2001 when he became increasingly upset and agitated at the mention of death. A multidisciplinary team approach and the use of a 'life event book' helped Mr Croft come to terms with his bereavement and allowed staff at the unit to put a strategy in place to help him prepare for future family bereavements.