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Grief in Caregiving

Navigating Emotional Challenges as a Care Partner

4 hands intertwined in a tight embrace

Understanding the nuances of grief in caregiving is important if we want to maintain quality care. Caring for a loved one can be both a rewarding and emotionally taxing experience. When care partners find themselves navigating through the logistics of providing care, they often put off working through the emotional tolls. That’s where the Resource Center comes in. We not only exist to support our older adults in our community, but their care partners too. 

Grief in caregiving can manifest in many different ways–the most common arising before the loss of a loved one. Acknowledging the type of grief you’re experiencing is the first step toward healing and working through it. 

Types of Grief Experienced by Care Partners

  1. Anticipatory Grief: These feelings of sadness or distress occur before a loss, as care partners face the impending loss of a loved one’s independence or mental clarity. This can lead to feelings of helplessness.
  2. Ambiguous Loss: Often unclear, this type of grief occurs when a loved one is physically present but psychologically or cognitively absent. It’s common among care partners of individuals with dementia.
  3. Compound Grief: This happens when multiple losses occur quickly, one after the other, leaving care partners little time to process each loss.  This can prolong and intensify the feelings of grief you’re experiencing.
  4. Complicated Grief: Intense and long-lasting, this type of grief can interfere with daily functioning and a care partner’s sense of purpose.

Strategies for Managing Grief in Caregiving

While grief is a natural response to caregiving challenges, it’s extremely important for care partners to find healthy ways to cope. Without coping, caregiving can become extremely daunting, challenging, and exhausting.  Here are a few strategies that can help. 

  1. Acknowledge Your Feelings: Recognizing and validating your grief is the first step toward healing. There often are feelings of guilt when care partners acknowledge their grief - that’s normal. Speaking to a close friend or journaling are great first steps.
  2. Find Support: Joining support groups, whether in-person or online, can foster a sense of community. Sharing experiences with others can validate your emotions, make you feel less alone, and give you important tools to cope.
  3. Prioritize Self-Care: Care partners put their loved ones first, which often means they neglect their own needs.  Prioritizing self-care—such as exercise, hobbies, or quiet time—can help mitigate feelings of grief and enhance resilience.
  4. Seek Professional Help: If feelings of grief become overwhelming and elongated, it may be necessary to seek professional help. Therapy or counseling can provide a safe space for processing emotions and learning new coping strategies.

Grief is an inherent part of the caregiving journey, especially for those caring for older adults. By understanding the various forms of grief and employing healthy coping strategies, care partners can navigate emotional challenges with greater resilience. To learn more about our resources for care partners, please see our flyer on Caregiver Support Groups and Workshops.

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If you or a loved one have any questions or are interested in additional resources, please contact our Resource Center:

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