The grieving process for widows and widowers of Alzheimer's victims is a uniquely complicated and painful one. To examine this issue, an exploratory study was conducted of 27 females and 13 males whose spouses, all dementia victims, had died between 3 months and 3 years prior to the study. In addition to these 40 interviews, an extensive literature review was done on caregivers of dementia victims and on coping strategies of people under stress. Eighty questionnaires completed by relatives of deceased Alzheimer's victims from a previous study (Coons et al., 1983) were also reviewed. Although an analysis of these data suggests that coping mechanisms for survival seem as infinite as the number of respondents, a few key issues did emerge: (1) transition into a nursing home seemed to be the most consistent trauma for caregivers; (2) experiences with nursing home placement varied from the extreme positive to the extreme negative; and (3) respondents reported that their caregiving experience made them stronger (N=25), more accepting (N=15), bitter (N=9), or weaker (N=10). Some respondents reported the help they received by remaining in support groups after the death of their spouse. Respondents felt that caregiver support groups should incorporate practical issues, caregiver needs, and help with nursing home placement into their programs. (NB)