Grief doesn’t always wait for death.

When you’re caring for someone with Alzheimer’s, especially younger-onset Alzheimer’s, you may find yourself grieving ongoing changes long before the end of life. This is anticipatory grief, and it can feel confusing, exhausting, and deeply isolating.

In this episode (31 of the GRIEF Ladies), we met with Cheri Davies and Karen Sandone and explored:

• What anticipatory grief feels like

• The emotional realities of Caregiving

• Why building a support community matters

• Self-care strategies that are actually realistic

• Finding moments of connection and joy along the way

Caregiving is Love in action, and caregivers deserve care, too.

As always, we close with practical steps you can try this week.

Guest Bio: Cheri Davies is a clinical social worker based in upstate New York. After her husband, Chris, was diagnosed with younger onset Alzheimer’s in June 2019, Cheri became a strong advocate for the Alzheimer’s Association as an Ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement. Cheri is also a founding member of Surviving the Now: Younger Onset Alzheimer’s. Their mission is to provide support to spouses and caregivers a supportive community while going through younger onset Alzheimer’s. Cheri is also an author in three collaborative books including Holistic Mental Health Vol 1 and 2, and The award winning Grief Experience, Tools for Acceptance, Resilience, and Connection. Karen Sandone is a member of the NFL Alumni community and a passionate Alzheimer’s advocate. She holds a master’s degree in Human Resources Development from Villanova University and has served as Director of Human Resources at the Bucks County Intermediate Unit since 2016. After her husband, Anthony, was diagnosed with Younger-Onset Alzheimer’s at 55, Karen became a dedicated caregiver, volunteer for the Alzheimer’s Association, congressional advocate for the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM), and founder of Surviving the Now, a supportive community for caregivers. Through her speaking and writing, she shares her Family’s journey to inspire awareness, strength, and hope.

Connect with Cheri and Karen at:

Surviving the Now Website: Survivingthenow.com

Linktr.ee/cheridavies

Linktr.ee/survivingthenow.endalz

Instagram: Klsandone Anthony_vs_alzheimers

CDaviesalz

TikTok Ksandone Tonystok

GRIEF Ladies: Your Guide to What Comes Next

If you’re ready to move forward without moving on—this show is for you.

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Kelly Daugherty: https://www.kellydaugherty.com/ Karyn Arnold: https://www.griefincommon.com/

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The GRIEF Ladies podcast offers Education and support for people living with grief after someone they love has died. Our content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental Health care or crisis services. If you are in crisis or concerned about your safety, call 988 in the U.S. or contact local emergency services.

Guest perspectives shared on this platform are their own and may not reflect the views or positions of The Grief Ladies.

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Kelly Daugherty The GRIEF Ladies

The GRIEF Ladies grew from decades of clinical work, community building, and lived experience. It isn’t a checklist to “get over it.” It’s a path you can re-enter on the hardest days and the ordinary ones.

Kelly Daugherty from Center for Informed Grief and Karyn Arnold of Grief in Common first connected when Kelly was leading a collaborative grief book project and posted in a Facebook group looking for authors. Karyn responded, and from their very first conversation, the connection was instant. They discovered a shared passion for supporting grieving individuals and striking similarities in their approaches and professional paths. Both had worked in hospice, and both believed that there are practical tools that can truly help support someone on their grief journey.

That first book became The Grief Experience: Tools for Acceptance, Resilience, and Connection. From there, their collaboration grew naturally. What began with one project has blossomed into an ongoing partnership including building frameworks, workshops, and now the GRIEF Ladies Podcast to help others navigate life after loss with honesty and hope. Sign up for their newsletter to stay informed about their future ventures!

Karyn Arnold has served grievers for 25+ years as a facilitator, educator, and the founder of Grief in Common, an online community that connects people by shared experiences of loss. With a background in psychology and mind–body work, Karyn blends evidence-informed practice with simple daily actions that help people steady themselves and find support. She has guided thousands of grievers through groups, workshops, and online programs, and partners with clinicians and organizations to make grief resources easier to find and use.

Kelly Daugherty, LCSW-R, FT, BCC, is a clinician, educator, board-certified coach, and founder of the Center for Informed Grief in Malta, NY. A Fellow in Thanatology, Kelly has worked with individuals and families across hospice, schools, and private practice for over two decades. Her commitment to grief work began after her mother’s death during Kelly’s teen years, shaping a career focused on practical, compassionate support. Kelly develops trainings for educators and mental-health professionals, consults with schools on grief-informed practices, and leads community programs that normalize grief while teaching concrete skills. She believes accessible, plain-language tools can change how communities show up for one another.