Some care partners of a person with dementia find that they have grieved the loss of the person for so long that they don’t have strong feelings of grief when the person dies. Others do experience a range of emotional reactions. These may include:

• Feeling numb
• Denial of the situation
• Shock and pain, even when death was expected
• Relief both for the person with dementia and for the care partner
• Guilt
• Sadness
• Feelings of isolation
• A sense of lack of purpose

For some people, it is normal to go through these feelings for a long time. If you have been looking after someone with dementia, you may feel a huge void in your life when the person has gone. Even if you are generally coping well, you may still find times when you feel especially sad or upset.

Funeral celebrant Verna Klimack discusses the grieving process and explores how anticipatory grief plays a role in the grieving journey.

More Learning Resources

The Progression of Alzheimer’s Disease: End of Life

Saying Farewell: A Guide to Assist you with the Death and Dying Process

Let’s Not Be Kidding Podcast with Gavin Crawford - Episode 7: Good Grief

All There Is Podcast with Anderson Cooper