Findings of a qualitative retrospective study ofcopingstrategies ofnewly widowed elderly are presented. The focus is on effects ofanticipatory grieving on the caregiver before the spouse's death as reported by the widowed partnerfollowing the death. Mostfrequent and troubling problems were reportedasloneliness, social isolation, disruption in eating and sleeping patterns and independent decision making. Changes in health status following the death were not asdetrimental as expected. Caregivers' health actually improved when those responsibilities were over. Recommendations for hospice care for the caregiver are suggested.
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