When Sandi Mitchell’s partner died in fall 2023 after a difficult illness, she was devastated by the loss, though it was far from her only taste of grief. Her first husband had died in 1999 after a long illness, and her second husband died suddenly in 2012. The third strike, however, was the one that really dinged her resilience, and she spiraled into depression and loneliness.
Despite living comfortably in her son’s home, his family’s circumstances had also changed over the 13 years that Mitchell, now 80, lived with them. The grandchildren had grown up, and Mitchell was left alone at home most days with little to occupy her time. Her grief, sadness and mobility challenges stemming from osteoarthritis made getting out and staying active in the community difficult.