Grief comes at different points along the journey of loss, but the primary points are the period that begins at diagnosis and the period that begins at the death of a loved one.  From the point of diagnosis to death, there are two types of grief: preparatory and anticipatory. 

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Preparatory Grief is experienced by the person who is ill as they grieve the loss of their health, independence, and the shortened time they will have with others.

 

Anticipatory Grief is experienced by family and friends as they struggle with thoughts and feelings surrounding the impending loss of their loved one.  In the hospice and palliative care settings, these losses are typically processed with social workers and/or chaplains who are specifically trained to deal with these experiences.

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Once death has occurred, feelings, thoughts, physical reactions, and other aspects of grief can make adjustment difficult, and carrying out basic activities may seem harder.  Family, friends, and other people you know and trust may have difficulty sharing in your grief or they may be struggling with the loss themselves. That’s when the grief care services of Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region can be so important. We listen. We support. We care. It is our goal to provide grief care services that address individual needs and situations, because everyone experiences grief in their own way, and on their own timetable.