Finding Meaning Through Healthy Grieving for Older Adults

Health Futures with Host Bob Roth

Grief counselor and coach Caroline Kawashima was a recent guest on the Health Futures Radio show hosted by Bob Roth. In 2021, Caroline tragically lost her 17-year-old son Miles in a drowning accident. This unexpected loss forced her to embark on a difficult grieving journey as a mother. Caroline found solace by being open about her grief and connecting with her community. This led her on a mission to turn her tragedy into something beautiful by helping other grieving mothers and individuals. On the show, Caroline shared her personal grief experience and how everyone grieves differently. She explained that grief is one of the most pressing yet unseen health concerns today. In the workplace, unaddressed grief costs companies up to $75 billion annually in lost productivity. Caroline advocated for employers to provide more robust support for grieving employees. She also discussed the importance of being present with someone who is grieving, instead of only relying on words. The concept of "beautiful grieving" was introduced as a way Caroline found meaning - seeing her late son in moments of beauty like a bumblebee on a sunflower. Caroline inspires people to honor their grieving process and find healthy ways to embrace life. #grief #griefsupport #grieving #healthealgrieving #olderadults #griefandloss #griefjourney