Identifying and Treating Complicated Grief in Older Adults

Abstract

Grief is the natural, instinctive response to the death of a loved one. Adaptation to loss often occurs, but for some, grief persists and can be so severe that it affects functioning and quality of life. This condition is called complicated grief (CG) or persistent complicated bereavement disorder. This article focuses on identifying CG in older adults, some of whom are often not recognized as living with grief. As the body of evidence for CG expands, we review the latest evidence-based practices for treating CG and recommend grief-conscious practice changes for the primary care setting.