Caregiver Grief in End-Stage Dementia

Abstract

Caregivers of individuals with end-stage dementia experience increased grief reactions; however, their grief is too often overlooked by health professionals. Regardless of their practice setting, social workers must assess and intervene with caregivers dealing with grief. This article provides information on the Marwit and Meuser Caregiver Grief Inventory (MM-CGI) that was designed to measure the grief of caregivers of individuals with progressive memory loss. Through the use of case examples, key areas of assessment are highlighted, as well as initial areas for helping caregivers cope and heal from their experiences of grief.

Key Words:

• Caregivers
• end-stage dementia
• grief
• memory loss