Anticipatory Grief

Grief experienced before an expected loss, particularly common among caregivers of individuals with progressive neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. Anticipatory grief encompasses mourning not only of the anticipated death, but also of the ongoing losses that accompany progressive disease — loss of the person's personality, memories, communication ability, and the relationship as it once was. For AD/ADRD caregivers, it is a chronic psychological burden that can overlap with depression and anxiety, often going unrecognized by health professionals. Effective digital mental health tools for caregivers must acknowledge and support anticipatory grieving as a distinct, ongoing process.