Grief is a normal reaction to loss that everyone experiences differently. There are typically five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Grief can occur due to death, but also other life changes like moves, job changes, relationship endings, or medical diagnoses. Alzheimer's disease causes grief for both the person diagnosed and their caregivers as abilities are lost over time. While grief takes time, seeking social support can help people move through the process in a healthy way.

1. Grief and Loss
Dawn Carnerie DeStefani, BSW

2. What we have once enjoyed deeply
we can never lose. All that we love
deeply becomes a part of us.
- Helen Keller

3. What is Grief?
 Griefis a reaction to a major loss. It is most
often an unhappy and painful emotion.
 Everyone reacts differently to grief.
 Itcan be said that there are five stages of
grief.

4. The Five Stages of Grief
 In 1969, psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross introduced what
became known as the “five stages of grief.”
 1- Denial, disbelief, numbness
 2- Anger, blaming others
 3- Bargaining (for instance "If I am cured of this cancer, I will
never smoke again.")
 4- Depressed mood, sadness, and crying
 5- Acceptance, coming to terms

5. When is there Grief?
 Many people believe that you can only
experience Grief and Loss when a death
occurs.
 In fact, a person can experience grief and
Loss when there is a life changing event such
as a move, a change in job, the end of a
relationship or the diagnosis of a medical
condition.

6. Grief and Alzheimer’s Disease
o It can be called the “Long Goodbye” as grief begins
once the diagnosis is made.
o The person with Alzheimer’s is grieving about the life they
will no longer be able to lead.
o The caregiver is grieving about the loss of the life they
planned and the loss of the person they know.
o The Five Stages of Grief can occur during the entire time
that a person has or is caring for a person with
Alzheimer’s and again once the person passes away.
o Support along the way is key to surviving this period of
grief.

7. Surviving Grief
o Understand that it is a normal process
of our emotions.
o Speak with your doctor if you’re
concerned that your grief is interfering
with your every day life or taking what
you consider to be “ too long.”
Depression can follow grief.
o Seek support from family, friends and
professionals.

8. Have Reasonable
expectations
 As everyone grieves differently, it can
take one person days and another
months or years to move through
their grief.
 You may want to consider going out
of your comfort zone (support groups,
religion, yoga, new hobby, etc.)

9. Prevention
 Grief should be respected and accepted.
 It’sa natural and healthy way to move
through the loss and change in life.
 Once you have been through grief and
loss you can be a good support to those
around you that will one day experience
their own loss.

10. “There is something you must always
remember. You are braver than you
believe, stronger than you seem, and
smarter than you think.”
~ Winnie the Pooh

11. Presented June 13, 2012 at the
Partners in Caring Caregiver Town Hall Forum
Coronado, California
Dawn Carnerie DeStefani, BSW, is Director of
Programs & Services for The Glenner Memory
Care Centers.
www..glenner.org