March 24, 2026

Ambiguous Loss

51 minutes

How do you grieve someone who is still standing in front of you? In this episode, we go beyond the medical diagnosis to explore Ambiguous Loss, the “long goodbye” that defines the dementia experience. It is a journey of grieving every day while the person you love is still living.

Inside this episode:

2:59 – "I Want to Go Home": Dr. Jason Karlawish uses poetry to dissect a fading mind.

12:01 – From Partner to Solo Parent: Eileen Ware’s journey with her husband Steve’s early-onset Alzheimer’s.

20:15 – Finding the Words: Dr. Cindy Weinstein on reclaiming her relationship with her father while grieving for 15 years.

31:30 – The Dual Process Model: Alison Lynn on why mourning in dementia is never linear.

Resources available on the episode webpage linked below

Learn more about Pauline Boss and ambiguous loss (Cleveland Clinic)

Read Dr. Karlawish’s poem, “Ambiguous Loss” in JAMA.

Learn more about Dr. Cindy Weinstein and her memoir, Finding the Right Words: A Story of Literature, Grief and the Brain

More information on Alison Lynn

More information on PMC’s support groups

Special thanks this episode to Jason Karlawish, MD, Eileen Ware, Cindy Weinstein, PhD, and Alison Lynn, MSW, LCSW.

The Age of Aging is a Penn Memory Center production hosted by Editorial Director Terrence Casey and Producer Jake Johnson, in partnership with the Penn FTD Center, the Penn Institute on Aging, and Penn’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. Contributors include Dalia Elsaid, Jason Karlawish, Emily Largent, and Alison Lynn.

The Age of Aging is made possible by generous support from the Michael Naidoff Communications Hub fund.

Caring for an aging loved one isn’t easy — but you don’t have to do it alone. At Rothkoff Law Group, we guide families across New Jersey and Pennsylvania through every stage of your aging journey. Our team of elder care attorneys, geriatric care coordinators, and public benefits specialists advocate for your loved one’s well-being and your peace of mind. Rothkoff Law Group — your partner in advocacy and senior care planning, every step of the way. Visit RothkoffLaw.com.

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