HSS 326 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Five Wishes, Advance Healthcare Directive, Life Review
20 Jun 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Hannah Cheyney
Human Service Studies
In Class Notes
March 28th, 2018
Loss & Grief in Old Age
Aging
Elder’s experience w/ loss: influenced by proximity to death, spirituality and/or
religiosity, culture
Life review = process of introspection, self-reflection & reminiscences
oCommonly includes reflecting on themes of loss
Feelings associating significant loss:
oFear, numbness, shock, anger, questioning faith, powerless, overwhelmed, sad,
sleeplessness
Typical losses:
oRelocation, retirement, caring for relative (chronic sorrow, grief), caring for adult
children (with issues), living with chronic illness/disability
Death of spouse can adversely affect well-being
oMen have tougher time adjusting to widowhood
oBereavement overload = older people: more likely to experience other losse
simultaneously
With friends, older adults lose past that could never be recaptured another
With siblings, physical loss + loss of shared memories/stories
oSurviving sibling: painfully reminded of own mortality
Approaching Death
In western society, dying: associated with old age
Dying Process = (Kubler-Ross’s 5 stages of coping with dying process)
1. Shock/denial
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression/withdrawal
5. Adjustment/acceptance
‘good death’ characterized by one’s:
osufficient time to say goodbye, access to hospice/palliative care, supports to
minimize suffering, access to information, choice about where death occurs,
adequate control of pain, knowing what to expect, ability to maintain dignity &
some control
End of Life Care + Options
End-of-life care=
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Elder"s experience w/ loss: influenced by proximity to death, spirituality and/or religiosity, culture. Life review = process of introspection, self-reflection & reminiscences: commonly includes reflecting on themes of loss. Feelings associating significant loss: fear, numbness, shock, anger, questioning faith, powerless, overwhelmed, sad, sleeplessness. Typical losses: relocation, retirement, caring for relative (chronic sorrow, grief), caring for adult children (with issues), living with chronic illness/disability. Death of spouse can adversely affect well-being: men have tougher time adjusting to widowhood, bereavement overload = older people: more likely to experience other losse simultaneously. With friends, older adults lose past that could never be recaptured another. With siblings, physical loss + loss of shared memories/stories: surviving sibling: painfully reminded of own mortality. In western society, dying: associated with old age. Dying process = (kubler-ross"s 5 stages of coping with dying process: shock/denial, anger, bargaining, depression/withdrawal, adjustment/acceptance.
