Caring for People who Die: The Experience of Family and Friends

1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 413-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clive Seale
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Death And Dying ◽  
National Sample ◽  
The Family ◽  
Family And Household ◽  
Mixed Feelings ◽  
Care Of The Dying

ABSTRACTA survey of relatives, friends and others who knew the deceased in a random national sample of adult deaths in England forms the basis of this report. Comparisons of this 1987 sample are made with a similar study carried out in 1969. The sample of deaths was largely one of elderly people, and changes in the family and household compositions of these people reflect changes in the wider population of elderly people. More lived alone, or in smaller family units, and fewer sources of help during their final illness were available from relatives. Women were particularly disadvantaged, both as dependants and carers, who were then bereaved, often themselves left to live alone. The stress and the mixed feelings of carers are described. Nevertheless, a substantial minority were free of serious levels of dependency in their last year of life. Those dying of cancer formed a somewhat younger group, with shorter periods of dependency and greater availability of relatives to look after them. Many of the medical and nursing innovations in the care of the dying have focused exclusively on cancer. This study demonstrates the value of a broader perspective on death and dying that emphasises the needs of older people.

Between Family and State: Ageing in Poland and Norway

1989 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 241-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georges Midre ◽  
Brunon Synak
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Older People ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Legal Obligation ◽  
Formal Care ◽  
The Family ◽  
Life Circumstances ◽  
Family State

ABSTRACTA comparative analysis of the life circumstances of older people in Poland and Norway is presented. It examines differences and similarities in attitudes to both family- and state-provided care, for those living in their own homes. In more prosperous Norway, public services are more frequent, elderly people are more independent and play a more active role in the labour market. In Poland formal care is seen as the last resort, with the responsibility for supporting elderly people placed firmly with the family. State services are directed towards those without families. The Norwegian system places no legal obligation on families, which results in a higher proportion living in institutions.

Talking with Peter Townsend

2018 ◽  
pp. 46-76
Author(s):  
Charlotte Greenhalgh
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Family Life ◽  
Life Stories ◽  
Aged Care ◽  
The State ◽  
Hard Work ◽  
Old People ◽  
The Family ◽  
Real Work

The family lives of elderly people attracted fresh concern in the postwar years when more old people lived alone and used welfare services. Sociologist Peter Townsend spent many hours speaking with each of 203 interviewees when he researched the topic in East London in 1954–1955. Townsend highlighted ignored contributions of older people to family life. He showed that families, not the state, did the real work of aged care. During interviews, older people told life stories that illustrated their hard work and stoicism, and that challenged sociological theories. Most did not fear death, but only the suffering of loved ones. While a few could not find the words, the majority were confident storytellers: this chapter explores their unpublished stories.

scholarly journals There is more to receiving than needing: theoretical arguments and empirical explorations of crowding in and crowding out

1999 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
HARALD KÜNEMUND ◽  
MARTIN REIN
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Adult Children ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Crowding Out ◽  
Family Solidarity ◽  
The Family ◽  
Welfare Systems ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Generous Welfare

Recent literature on intergenerational relations – although giving different explanations – suggests that the giving of money and services to children reinforces the receiving of money and services by elderly people. To explore the flow of support between the generations we present evidence about the type and intensity of the help that elderly people receive from their adult children and their families. By comparing five developed countries we examine whether the amount of family help transferred to older people is shaped by a ‘crowding out’ process, in which more generous welfare systems displace family solidarity. Taking co-residence into account the international comparison does not support the crowding out hypothesis. We then show that the giving of services by older people to their adult children increases the probability that they receive help from them. This indirectly supports the reverse hypothesis, namely that the relationship between the state and the family may be described as a process of ‘crowding in’: generous welfare systems which give resources to elderly people help to increase rather than undermine family solidarity.

The Relationship Between Antioxidant Nutrient Intake and Cataracts in Older People

2006 ◽  
Vol 76 (6) ◽  
pp. 359-366 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodríguez-Rodríguez ◽  
Ortega ◽  
López-Sobaler ◽  
Aparicio ◽  
Bermejo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin C ◽  
Older People ◽  
Dietary Intake ◽  
Protective Effect ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Nutrient Intake ◽  
Institutionalized Elderly ◽  
Weighing Method ◽  
The Relationship

This study investigated the relationship between the intake of antioxidant nutrients and the suffering of cataracts in 177 institutionalized elderly people (61 men and 116 women) aged ≥ 65 years. Dietary intake was monitored for 7 consecutive days using a "precise individual weighing" method. Subjects, who during their earlier years were exposed by their work to sunlight, had a greater risk of suffering cataracts (OR = 3.2; Cl: 1.1–9.3, P < 0.05) than those who worked indoors. A relationship was found between increased vitamin C intake and a reduced prevalence of cataracts (i.e., when comparing those above P95 for vitamin C intake with those below P5; (OR = 0.08; Cl: 0.01–0.75, P 0.05). Among subjects with cataracts, 12.1% had vitamin C intakes of < 61 mg/day (P10) and only 2.2% had intakes of > 183 mg/day (P95) (p < 0.01). Subjects who consumed > 3290 μg/day (P95) of lutein were less likely to have cataracts (OR = 0.086; Cl: 0.007–1.084; p < 0.05) than those whose consumption was < 256 μg/day (P5). In men, high intakes of zeaxanthin seemed to provide a protective effect against the problem (OR = 0.96; Cl: 0.91–0.99; p < 0.05). The results suggest an association exists between exposure to sunlight and the development of cataracts, and that vitamin C, lutein, and zeaxanthin offer some protection against this disorder.

Living in the end times: a short course addressing end of life issues for older people in an English parish church setting

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 140-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Collicutt
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Group Dynamics ◽  
Death And Dying ◽  
Community Context ◽  
Content Type ◽  
End Of Life Issues ◽  
End Times ◽  
High Level ◽  
High Degree

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report a pilot study that evaluated an innovative practice in a faith community context designed to help older people live well at the end of life and prepare for death. Design/methodology/approach – A simple audit of the intervention using a contemporaneous journal kept by the author, and a follow up questionnaire completed by participants. Findings – Rich findings on the process are reported. These indicate a high degree of engagement by participants, the establishment of a high degree of group intimacy and trust, a high level of articulation of wisdom, the emergence of significant anxiety in some isolated cases, and the use made of tea and cake to manage the transition between the existentially demanding nature of the discussions and normal life. The outcome indicated very high levels of appreciation and increased confidence in relation to issues of death and dying. Practical implications – The findings of the pilot have been used to inform training of clergy in the principles of working in this area (e.g. in ways of managing group dynamics and anxiety, pacing, tuning in to archetypes and the natural symbols that people use to talk about death and dying, self-care and supervision of the programme leader/facilitator). Originality/value – The paper adds to knowledge in terms of an in depth description of processes at work in a group of older people working on spiritual and practical issues in relation to death, and offers ideas for supporting older people in this process, some of which are specific to the Christian tradition, and some of which are more widely applicable to people of all faiths and none. It gives a specific worked example of what “spiritual care” in this area might look like.

Older people dying with dementia: a nationwide study

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (10) ◽  
pp. 1581-1591 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koen Meeussen ◽  
Lieve Van den Block ◽  
Michael Echteld ◽  
Nicole Boffin ◽  
Johan Bilsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
End Of Life Care ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Care Home ◽  
Life Care ◽  
Early Palliative Care ◽  
People With Dementia

ABSTRACTBackground: Large-scale nationwide data describing the end-of-life characteristics of older people with dementia are lacking. This paper describes the dying process and end-of-life care provided to elderly people with mild or severe dementia in Belgium. It compares with elderly people dying without dementia.Methods: A nationwide retrospective mortality study was conducted, via representative network of general practitioners (GPs) in 2008 in Belgium, with weekly registration of all deaths (aged ≥ 65) using a standardized form. GPs reported on diagnosis and severity of dementia, aspects of end-of-life care and communication, and on the last week of life in terms of symptoms that caused distress as judged by the GP, and the patients’ physical and cognitive abilities.Results: Thirty-one percent of our sample (1,108 deaths) had dementia (43% mildly, 57% severely). Of those, 26% died suddenly, 59% in care home, and 74% received palliative treatment, versus 37%, 19%, and 55% in people without dementia. GP–patient conversations were less frequent among those with (45%) than those without (73%) dementia, and 11% of both groups had a proxy decision-maker. During the last week of life, physical and psychological distress was common in both groups. Of older people with dementia, 83% were incapable of decision-making and 83% were bedridden; both significantly higher percentages than found in the group without dementia (24% and 52%).Conclusions: Several areas of end-of-life care provision could be improved. Early communication and exploration of wishes and appointment of proxy decision-makers are important components of an early palliative care approach which appears to be initiated too infrequently.

The Utility of Family Life Cycle as a Theoretical and Empirical Tool

2003 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn A. Kapinus ◽  
Michael P. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Family Life ◽  
Predictive Power ◽  
National Sample ◽  
Family Life Cycle ◽  
Predictive Tool ◽  
The Family ◽  
Dependent Variables ◽  
Married Men ◽  
Using Data

Using data from a 1980 national sample of married men and women, the analysis examines the utility of the family life cycle concept, employing as dependent variables constructs from Johnson’s conceptualization of commitment. They argue, in disagreement with two classic critiques of the family life cycle concept, that the predictive power of family life cycle is, for many dependent variables, quite independent of age or length of marriage. Their analyses demonstrate that, when using dependent variables one would expect to be related to the presence and ages of children, family life cycle remains a useful predictive tool.

Interagency Cooperation in an Adult Discussion Group for Visually Impaired Older People

1978 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-19
Author(s):  
Donna L. Emerson ◽  
Marla Long
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Group Process ◽  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Discussion Group ◽  
Specific Model ◽  
Stages Of Development ◽  
Interagency Cooperation ◽  
Visually Handicapped ◽  
Community Cooperation

The National Association for Visually Handicapped Adult Discussion Group offered a workshop to change the attitudes of a group of visually impaired older people. From an examination of the group process, four discernible stages of development were observed. Also outlined is a specific model of community cooperation among agencies for the visually handicapped and sighted elderly people.

scholarly journals Elderly suicide in Korean literature: A reflection on short- and medium-length novels

2017 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yeong Sik Mun
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Personality Traits ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Korean War ◽  
Psychological Trauma ◽  
Korean Society ◽  
The Korean War ◽  
Elderly Suicide ◽  
The Military ◽  
Commit Suicide

This article attempts to examine how elderly suicide is viewed in Korean novels, against the background that suicide rates are higher among older people in Korean society. Firstly, elderly suicide is caused by loneliness and alienation in some novels. Writers foreground some problems that people, especially elderly people, need to address. For example, not only people with negative personality traits but also people with positive personality traits can commit suicide when they cannot overcome disappointing words from their children; suicide is a greedy act if it is committed because of loneliness and alienation; elderly people need to humbly accept their lives, even though loneliness and alienation are unavoidable. Secondly, Korean novels make it clear that elderly suicide is closely related to Korean modern history. Old people experienced psychological trauma as they underwent the Korean War in the 1950s, the military dictatorship in the 1980s and the IMF crisis in the 1990s. When obsessed with a sense of guilt, older people sometimes commit suicide in order to atone for their wrongdoings. Thirdly, elderly suicide is depicted in positive terms in a novel, while suicide is usually considered to be a negative act. An elderly couple with physical illness commits suicide out of love for each other in hopes of reincarnation. This suicide is viewed as resolving the conflict between their daughter and her husband. In examining perspectives on elderly suicide as depicted in Korean novels, this article sheds light on reasons why some elderly people live unsound lives and suggests some solutions.

The role of the family in care of older people

2018 ◽  
pp. 119-134
Author(s):  
Wendy Moyle ◽  
Marguerite Bramble
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
The Family
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document