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Anticipatory Grief 101

The grieving process often starts days, weeks or months before the loss of a loved one. This educational program from the Grief Counseling Center explores this complicated type of grief - called anticipatory grief - and offers helpful coping strategies.

Aug 31, 2026

Anticipatory Grief 101 is a 1-hour educational program provided by the Grief Counseling Center covering a wide-variety of topics related to anticipatory grief including signs and symptoms, coping strategies, role reversal, caregiver burnout and even how to help children experiencing anticipatory grief. This program has been separated into the short videos listed below.

Part 1: Introduction

Part 2: A Closer Look at Grief

Part 3: Characteristics of Anticipatory Grief

Part 4: Who Experiences Anticipatory Grief?

Part 5: Factors Impacting Anticipatory Grief

Part 6: Signs of Anticipatory Grief

Part 7: Working Through Anticipatory Grief

Part 8: Anticipatory Grief in Children – Talking to Children about Terminal Illness

Part 9: Signs of Anticipatory Grief in Children

Part 10: Ways to Support Children Through Anticipatory Grief

Part 11: Anticipatory Grief & Caregiver Burnout

Part 12: Signs of Caregiver Burnout

Part 13: Anticipatory Grief & Role Reversal

Part 14: Caregiver, Check in with Yourself

Part 15: How to Avoid Caregiver Burnout

Additional Resources:

Explore our Caregiver Support Resources including Caregiving Companion and Caregiver Coffee House
Read more about anticipatory grief in our blogpost titled “The Grief We Feel Before a Loss”
Listen to our 2-part podcast about children and grief: The E-Series: Supporting Kids and Teens Through Loss – Episode 1 and Supporting Kids and Teens Through Loss – Episode 2

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- Daughter of patient

Thank you for making your home like her home, warm and comfortable.

- Sister of a patient (in reference to Hospice Home)

Your kindness and efforts go far beyond the patients and extend to their families and friends.

- Family of a patient

Everyone who cared for my wife was, without exception, caring, kind, and exceptionally capable individuals who seemed to truly care about her well-being and care.

- Husband of a patient

Your staff (at Hospice Home) was confident, thoughtful, kind and very loving to my mom. When we couldn’t be there or take care of her needs, you took care of her.

- Son of a patient

My mother spent her last days in your facility. I want to thank you for the gifts you gave to her and our family. The dignity, caring, professionalism, and kindness will remain a bright part of our saying goodbye to our mother.

- Daughter of a patient

My family and I would not have made it without Hospice.

- Daughter of a patient

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- Joe Lyons, Hospice volunteer

Thank you for all of your care, concern, education and kindness during Mom’s last year. My grief journey has had a lighter backpack because of Hospice.

- A patient’s daughter

Their touch, their time, their words were the comfort of a lifetime.

- A patient’s family

We were privileged to have the support of (Hospice)…They nurtured and cared for my husband as if he was their only patient.

- Wife of a patient

Me consuela saber que mi esposa tuvo los mejores cuidados gracias a Hospice. La ayudaron a ella y a nuestra familia en todas las maneras posibles.

- Marido de un paciente

I thank God for putting good people in the right job for people like me.

- Patient family member

We were so impressed by your staff and your desire to help us. No one wants to need Hospice, but when a person does, it is a tremendous blessing. Thanks again for the care you gave my dad, and ultimately all of us.

- Daughter of a patient

I would like to say that you have a beautiful Hospice Home. It is so nice and serene. I love the “quiet spots” that you can go to and meditate. Thank you so much in helping make my mother’s last days on this earth a little better and comforting.

- Daughter of a patient