Not all mourning happens after bereavement – for some, grief can start years before the death of a loved one

Not all mourning happens after bereavement – for some, grief can start years before the death of a loved one 
The Conversation, by Beth Daley; 2/22/24
For many people, grief starts not at the point of death, but from the moment a loved one is diagnosed with a life-limiting illness. Whether it’s the diagnosis of an advanced cancer or a non-malignant condition such as dementia, heart failure or Parkinson’s disease, the psychological and emotional process of grief can begin many months or even years before the person dies. This experience of mourning a future loss is known as anticipatory grief.
Editor's Note: All clinical team members need to be equipped to tune into and validate grief that is already underway. Social workers and chaplains--especially--need to be trained to tend grief in the present, and to know how to make high-acuity referrals to bereavement counselors.