Yes, it can certainly be grief.
Often it's known as 'grieving for the living' or 'anticipatory grief' and is a completely normal response when faced with such tragic news as you have been. I'm really sorry to hear your grandma and family and yourself are all going through this. Can you lean on each other for support during this time?
The reason I say it is grief is for two reasons. Your granny is very unwell and unfortunately with dementia there are a lot of changes, as I'm sure you're aware, so you might be grieving the loss of her health and abilities. Depending on the type or stage of dementia you might be grieving her personality too as this can be affected, and it is all such a hard process to go through and watch when a loved one is facing such a debilitating illness. The memory problems that go along with it can really hurt, especially if they start to (seem to) forget you.
(I'm not trying to tell you what you are and aren't grieving for, I'm just saying these are common things experienced when a loved one is diagnosed with dementia).
Of course dementia is a progressive condition so many people can feel grief knowing they are going to lose a loved one, as with other terminal illnesses such as cancer.
Essentially, grief can come from any form of loss and serious change and you're going through both of those right now. Do you have good supports in place and people you can talk to, to help you through this? Remember we are here too. If it would help, maybe you could talk a bit about your feelings here, too.
I'm wishing you all the very best, sending you strength xxx
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