Grief

Grief is a natural feeling. The feeling surfaces when we lose someone we love. It is a natural reaction to dementia, where there is gradual loss of cognitive function in your loved one. Both as a spouse and as a child, you will grieve over the changes occurring to the person you have known. It is a great loss, because what you had together begins to change radically over time. Many - especially spouses - will miss what they shared together in the past.

In the beginning when the symptoms are mild, you may hold onto the hope that it will be alright. Hope is a healthy reaction that helps you cope. But there will be situations where the changes have to be faced and you have to decide what you are going to do. Grief will surface every time large changes happen that "take away" the person you knew so well.

• You can ease the feeling of grief by talking with your loved ones about what you are feeling.
• You can meet with peers and share feelings of grief with others.
• Some books may be helpful, see the book list