Experiences of loss and grief among relatives of people with dementia

Dementia causes those affected and their relatives to experience a profound transformation in various aspects of their lives. Familiar daily routines, processes and the distribution of roles are disrupted and altered. Relatives are particularly burdened in this situation, as they usually have to adapt to new circumstances without warning and are exposed to multiple stresses in psychological, physical, social, family, time-related and financial terms. Depending on the duration of the illness, relatives go through a long-lasting and progressive process of saying goodbye. This study focuses on how relatives experience loss and grief, and on the various stresses they face whilst caring for a person with dementia.