A grandparent’s grief is not always acknowledged, yet it is very real. In fact, when a grandparent grieves the death of a grandchild, the grandparent gets a double dose of grief. The grandparent grieves not only for the lost grandchild, but also for their own child, the father or mother of the deceased grandchild.

Grandparents indeed shoulder a heavy burden of grief, one that is too often overlooked. Here are a few steps a grieving grandparent can take.