Literature Review

Intense grief attacks: An investigation into the factor structure of a bereavement-related phenomenonJournal of Clinical & Basic Psychosomatics; by Sherman Aclaracion Lee, Tomás Caycho-Rodríguez, Lindsey W. Vilca, Robert A. Neimeyer; 9/25Grief attacks are a highly distressing and potentially debilitating bereavement-related experience. Although empirical research on these intense eruptions of loss-related anguish is limited, the literature suggests that this phenomenon consists of a mixture of both panic attack and grief symptoms. The present study examined the factor structure of intense grief attack symptoms using data from 303 bereaved adults. These findings not only support anecdotal and clinical accounts of grief attacks but also provide partial psychometric support for the Grief Attack Questionnaire in measuring these sudden, unanticipated, and overwhelming responses to bereavement. 

Letters without limits: Linda McDaniel The Johns Hopkins News-Letter; by Max Siauw and Linda McDaniel; 10/18/25 Letters Without Limits, founded by students at Johns Hopkins and Brown University, connects volunteers with palliative care and hospice patients to co-create “Legacy Letters.” These letters capture memories, values and lessons that patients wish to share, preserving stories that might otherwise be lost. By honoring these voices and preserving legacies, Letters Without Limits hopes to affirm the central role of humanism in medicine, reminding us that every patient is more than their illness and that their voices deserve to be heard. As you read these powerful Legacy Letters, we invite you to pause, reflect and recognize the beauty in every life.

Supporting bereaved caregivers: Adaptation of the REACH behavioral interventionOmega; by Jennifer Martindale-Adams, Jeffrey K Zuber, Deanna Stark, Linda O Nichols; 9/25The brief REACH VA intervention for bereaved caregivers, adapted from the REACH VA (Resources for Enhancing All Caregivers' Health) behavioral caregiver intervention, was piloted October 2023 to March 2025. REACH is structured and standardized to focus on information about grief and bereavement, support, and physical and emotional well-being through problem solving, cognitive reframing, and stress management, but targeted to each bereaved caregiver's specific needs through a Risk Assessment. An accompanying Notebook provides information on practical issues, understanding grief, grief activators, and moving from the caregiver role. On average, caregivers reported significant improvements in depressive symptoms, anxiety, stress, and symptoms of anger ... In February 2025, through the Department of Veterans Affairs Caregiver Support Program, each VA facility implemented the program. 

Facebook and perinatal loss: Facebook groups use among parents from the U.S., France and ItalyOmega-Journal of Death and Dying; by Livia Sani, Meryem Labouihi, Joanne Cacciatore, Marie-Frédérique Bacqué; 9/25This study explores how ... [Facebook] groups are used after perinatal loss and evaluates their psychological role for bereaved parents. We conducted a thematic analysis of posts from FB groups in the U.S. and France over one month; a third group from Italy was excluded due to insufficient activity. Four main categories emerged: emotional responses to loss, subsequently born children, mutual sharing of memories of their deceased children and practical information. Findings reveal similarities between the French and U.S. groups, particularly in how mothers express emotions, seek validation, and commemorate their children. The lack of active Italian groups may reflect cultural attitudes toward grief. 

New garden at Benefis Peace Hospice offers space for grief and healing KRTV-3 Great Falls, MT; by Aneesa Coomer; 9/23/25 On what would have been her 68th birthday, family, friends, and colleagues gathered Monday at Benefis Peace Hospice to honor the life and legacy of Terry Preite with the dedication of a new memorial garden. A longtime senior leader at Benefis Health System, Preite oversaw both Peace Hospice and the Benefis Foundation, programs she poured her heart into for much of her career. .... The new Terry Preite Memorial Garden features sculptures, walking paths, and quiet spaces for reflection. It was designed not only for hospice patients and families, but for anyone in the community seeking peace.

Grief etiquette in the digital age: Why waiting, listening, and respecting family wishes matters more than ever National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) - Remembering a Life; by Dr. Camelia L. Clarke; 10/2/25When my nephew died unexpectedly, I was still reeling from the news when my phone began to buzz with notifications. Within an hour, his death was already circulating on social media. The world had found out before our family had even begun to process the loss, let alone notify our closest friends and relatives. I remember feeling overwhelmed, exposed, and, most of all, heartbroken—not just by the loss itself, but by how quickly and impersonally it became public knowledge. As a funeral director and grief educator for nearly thirty years, I’ve witnessed this scenario unfold countless times. 

Doyel: I didn't know how strong and kind my special Mom was. Not until she started dying. Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, IN; by Greg Doyle; 10/1/25 The last time we talked, I told my mom the truth: I’d missed just how wonderful she was. Make no mistake, I knew she was wonderful. Kind, considerate, strong – she checked all the best boxes. And generous? Mom’s the most generous person I’ve ever known, and I’ve known it for years. But I didn’t know just how generous she was. Not until she started dying. Didn’t know how strong she was, either. Not until she was so weak she couldn’t stand on her own two feet. That’s when I finally saw it. ...

Shepherd’s Cove helps students cope with loss Messenger, Gadsden, AL; by Karla McArthur; 9/25/25 ... “When people think of Shepherd’s Cove, they think of a hospice facility, which is accurate but not the complete picture,” Smothers said. “They don’t necessarily connect the grief support with the hospice services.” The nonprofit’s hospice facility serves nine counties, but its in-school bereavement program currently reaches only four. Portions of Etowah County are included, allowing counselors to support students at several schools, including West End, Duck Springs, Highland, Sardis-area campuses and Attalla City schools. Smothers said the goal is to expand as more staff are added. A team of four social workers provides monthly counseling for students in grades K-12 who have experienced a loss. The loss does not have to be recent. “We operate under the precept that grief doesn’t have a timeline,” Smothers said. 

The silent grief of grandmothers after an out-of-order death-An interpretative phenomenological analysisDeath Studies; by Jordan Robertson, Elizabeth A Cutrer-Párraga, Paul Caldarella, Jeremy B Yorgason, Terrell Young, Erjola Gjini, Sarah Stuart, Savannah Tueller; 9/25This study delves into the lived experiences of grandmothers grappling with grief following the "out-of-order" death of a child, child-in-law, or grandchild ... Findings reveal three key themes: navigating personal grief, intergenerational support dynamics, and reconstructing family identity. Grandmothers oscillate between loss-oriented and restoration-oriented coping, with grief intensity varying by relational proximity-most profound when losing their own child. They provide emotional and practical support to surviving grandchildren, yet their own sorrow is frequently overlooked, fostering isolation. The study suggests the need for enhanced recognition and tailored support for grandmothers, integrating life course theory to address the disruption of off-time deaths, ultimately advocating for a balanced approach to their bereavement process.

20-year-old twins reinvent a high plains farm after loss Successful Farming; by Lisa Foust Prater; 9/6/25 ... Kit Carson is a community of around 250 people in the High Plains of eastern Colorado. “There were nine kids in our graduating class, and we were two of them,” Alex said.  Just after senior year started, in September 2022, the brothers lost their mother, Maria, to cancer. Then, in January, they lost their father, Ervin, to the same disease. Ervin had been in the hospital since summer. When Maria’s cancer progressed, the couple was moved into hospice together, about 20 minutes from home. ... [Through their bereavement,] ... Alex and Paul made a decision: they were going to keep the farm going, and they were going to do it together. And although they learned countless lessons about farming from their father, they agreed they weren’t going to just keep doing things because that’s the way they had always been done. ...

NFDA honors Grief Awareness Day - Aug 30National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA); email; 8/28/25With Grief Awareness Day approaching on August 30, there's an untold story about the professionals quietly on the front lines of America's grief challenges—and it's not who you might expect. Funeral directors have become essential facilitators in helping families process loss in healthy ways. They’re challenging harmful cultural myths about grief. Through thoughtful service planning and creating space for open dialogue about death, funeral directors are guiding families toward healing. National Funeral Directors Association leaders are available to discuss:

Patient deaths, inner scars, and physicians’ need to grieveMedscape; by Andrea Goto; 8/6/25In 2023, Molly Taylor, MD, MS, a pediatric oncologist and attending physician at Seattle Children’s, sat in her parked car with tears streaming down her face. She was preparing to attend the memorial service for an 8-year-old patient she had lost a week prior. The patient’s mother had asked Taylor if she could share a few words about the little girl... Taylor is not alone in experiencing grief tinged with guilt after losing a patient. Although the prevalence of provider grief hasn’t been widely examined, a JPSM review published in 2023 indicated that it’s a significant issue in many areas of medicine.

My wife of 52 years just died. My grief is so overwhelming, I can barely cope. HuffPost; by Ronald Paxton; 8/11/25 ... March 1, 2022, was the day our lives changed forever. ...  My spouse, my wife of 52 years, my high school sweetheart was going to die, and there was nothing I or anyone else could do about it. ... The house is quiet now. I’m trying to move forward, but it’s hard. I thought we would grow old together. We did, but not nearly old enough. Diane’s death has taught me that no matter how much we love someone, we all have our own lives to live. The best way for me to honor the life Diane and I had together is to live the rest of my life the best way I know how. It’s late. I should try to sleep, but I think I’ll turn on the television. I need something to cover the sound of crying.