When an adult child loses a parent, they lose a part of the connection to their own history. The loss has a large impact no matter what the relationship is between parent and child. When a loving and healthy relationship ends in the death of a parent, the child loses the support and love from the relationship. In difficult or broken relationships, the grieving child may struggle to accept that a positive relationship with the parent will now never come.

Adult children often have to provide support to the surviving parent, their siblings, and their own children grieving their grandparent. One of the challenges adult children face when coping with the loss of a parent is the need to be “strong” for other family members. It’s important for individuals to take time for their own grief, even when others need their support.

Caring Connections offers grief support groups focused on the loss of a family member or friend.