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Unmet care needs in the oldest old with social loss experiences: results of a representative survey. BMC Geriatr 2020; 20:416. [PMID: 33081693 PMCID: PMC7576733 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-020-01822-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Loss experiences such as the loss of a spouse, a close relative or significant others become more likely in old age and may be strongly related to specific unmet health care needs. These unmet needs may often remain undetected and undertreated followed by a negative impact on well-being and social role functioning. The present study aims at exploring the relationship between loss experiences and specific unmet care needs in old age. Methods As part of the study „Need assessment in the oldest old: application, psychometric examination and establishment of the German version of the Camberwell Assessment of Need for the Elderly (CANE)”, the adapted German version of the CANE was used in a population-representative telephone survey in a sample of 988 individuals aged 75+ years. Loss experiences within the last 12 months were assessed within the structured telephone survey. Descriptive and interferential statistical analyses were run in order to examine the association between loss experiences and occurring unmet care needs. Results Overall, 29.7% of the oldest old reported at least one social loss with other relatives losses being the most frequent (12.5%), followed by non-family losses (10.7%). A significant relationship between loss experiences and a higher number of unmet care needs was observed, especially for close family losses. Other risk factors for unmet care needs were age, marital status, depression, social support and morbidity. Conclusions This study provides, for the first time in Germany, data on the association between loss experiences and unmet needs. These findings may substantially contribute to the development of loss-specific interventions, effective treatment and health care planning for the bereaved elderly.
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Ghesquiere A, Bagaajav A, Ito M, Sakaguchi Y, Miyashita M. Investigating associations between pain and complicated grief symptoms in bereaved Japanese older adults. Aging Ment Health 2020; 24:1472-1478. [PMID: 31002011 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2019.1594166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Objectives: About 10% of those who lose a loved one in hospice or palliative care settings will experience a mental health condition characterized by severe, prolonged grief responses. Criteria for this condition have evolved; we refer to this condition as Complicated Grief (CG) because it is one of the more common names. While there are some indications of associations between CG and poor physical health, explorations of the association between CG and pain is limited. The main objective of this study was to explore whether pain levels are higher in those with CG than those without, using a large population-based samples of Japanese older adults.Method: The study analyzed data from the Japan HOspice and Palliative care Evaluation (J-HOPE) study, a cross sectional study conducted in 2008 that examined the experiences and outcomes among adults throughout Japan who had lost a loved one within a palliative department or hospice setting, via self-report survey. We examined a subsample sample of 324 individuals aged 50 and above who completed a measure of CG.Results: Family members with high pain group had statistically significantly higher CG symptoms than those with low pain group (M = 66.95 vs. M = 52.05), an association which remained when controlling for demographic and loss-related factors.Conclusion: We found preliminary evidence of an association between CG symptoms and pain, which should be explored in additional samples. Should this finding be replicated, the mechanism of this association could be explored and treatment could potentially address both CG and pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Ghesquiere
- Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging, Hunter College of the City University of New York, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ariunsanaa Bagaajav
- Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging, Hunter College of the City University of New York, New York, New York, USA
| | - Masaya Ito
- Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging, Hunter College of the City University of New York, New York, New York, USA
| | - Yukihiro Sakaguchi
- Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging, Hunter College of the City University of New York, New York, New York, USA
| | - Mitsunori Miyashita
- Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging, Hunter College of the City University of New York, New York, New York, USA
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Bui E, Chad-Friedman E, Wieman S, Grasfield RH, Rolfe A, Dong M, Park ER, Denninger JW. Patient and Provider Perspectives on a Mind–Body Program for Grieving Older Adults. Am J Hosp Palliat Care 2017; 35:858-865. [DOI: 10.1177/1049909117743956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Eric Bui
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Elyse R. Park
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - John W. Denninger
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Van Humbeeck L, Dillen L, Piers R, Grypdonck M, Van Den Noortgate N. The suffering in silence of older parents whose child died of cancer: A qualitative study. DEATH STUDIES 2016; 40:607-617. [PMID: 27333540 DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2016.1198942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
As life expectancy grows, the death of an adult child becomes a highly prevalent problem for older adults. The present study is based on nine interviews and explores the experience of parents (≥70 years) outliving an adult child. The bereaved parents described some silencing processes constraining their expression of grief. When an adult dies, the social support system nearly automatically directs its care towards the bereaved nuclear family. Parental grief at old age is therefore often not recognized and/or acknowledged. Health care providers should be sensitive to the silent grief of older parents both in geriatric and oncology care settings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Let Dillen
- b Oncology Centre and Department of Geriatric Medicine , Ghent University Hospital , Ghent , Belgium
| | - Ruth Piers
- a Department of Geriatric Medicine , Ghent University Hospital , Ghent , Belgium
| | - Mieke Grypdonck
- c Department of Public Health , University Centre for Nursing and Midwifery, Ghent University , Ghent , Belgium
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Ghesquiere AR, Bazelais KN, Berman J, Greenberg RL, Kaplan D, Bruce ML. Associations Between Recent Bereavement and Psychological and Financial Burden in Homebound Older Adults. OMEGA-JOURNAL OF DEATH AND DYING 2016. [DOI: 10.1177/0030222815590709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Bereavement is common in older adults, but it remains unknown whether bereavement contributes to poor outcomes in the vulnerable population of older adults receiving home-based services. We examine whether recent bereavement was associated with worse physical or mental health, presence of abuse or neglect, and financial strain. Research Design Cross-sectional analyses of an assessment of functional and social vulnerabilities collected by the New York City Department for the Aging (DFTA), the largest Area Agency on Aging in New York. Assessments were completed on 5,576 New York City Department for the Aging long-term care program, recipients aged ≥60 who received services in 2012. Assessment also collected data on partner or child death in the last year. Results Logistic regression indicated that the recently bereaved were more likely than the nonbereaved to report both depression symptoms and financial strain. Conclusion Enhanced efforts to identify and address mental health and financial concerns in bereaved homebound older adults may be warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela R. Ghesquiere
- Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging, Hunter College of the City University of New York, NY, USA
| | - Kisha N. Bazelais
- University of Miami, Student Counseling Center, Coral Gables, FL, USA
| | | | | | - Daniel Kaplan
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, NY, USA
| | - Martha L. Bruce
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, NY, USA
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Granek L, Peleg-Sagy T. Representations of African Americans in the Grief and Mourning Literature from 1998 to 2014: A Systematic Review. DEATH STUDIES 2015; 39:605-632. [PMID: 26018864 DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2015.1047059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The authors examined representations of African Americans in the grief literature to assess (a) frequencies; (b) content; and (c) use of universalist or a contextualized framework. They conducted searches in 3 databases that target the grief literature published in the last 15 years. Fifty-nine articles met the criteria. There are a small number of studies published on African Americans and these tend to focus on homicide. Many studies had incomplete methods. Comparison studies were common and pathological grief outcomes that were validated on White populations were used as outcome variables with African American participants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leeat Granek
- a Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences , Ben-Gurion University of the Negev , Beer Sheva , Israel
| | - Tal Peleg-Sagy
- b Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences , Ben-Gurion University of the Negev , Beer Sheva , Israel
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Abstract
Bereavement is a common experience in adults aged 60 and older. Loss of a loved one usually leads to acute grief characterized by yearning and longing, decreased interest in ongoing activities, and frequent thoughts of the deceased. For most, acute grief naturally evolves into a state of integrated grief, where the bereaved is able to reengage with everyday activities and find interest or pleasure. About 7 % of bereaved older adults, however, will develop the mental health condition of Complicated Grief (CG). In CG, the movement from acute to integrated grief is derailed, and grief symptoms remain severe and impairing. This article reviews recent publications on the diagnosis of CG, risk factors for the condition and evidenced-based treatments for CG. Greater attention to CG detection and treatment in older adults is needed.
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Williams BR, Sawyer P, Allman RM. Wearing the garment of widowhood: variations in time since spousal loss among community-dwelling older adults. J Women Aging 2012; 24:126-39. [PMID: 22486476 PMCID: PMC3601770 DOI: 10.1080/08952841.2012.639660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
We examine how the passage of time since spousal loss varies by social and demographic characteristics, using data from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Study of Aging. In multivariate analyses, African American race, female sex, lower income, and higher risk of social isolation had significant and independent associations with variation in time since spousal loss. African American women were at highest risk for long-term widowhood. Accurate characterizations of widowhood among community-dwelling older adults must consider variation in the length of time individuals are living as widowed persons and socioeconomic concomitants of long-term widowhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beverly Rosa Williams
- The Birmingham/Atlanta VA Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA.
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Williams BR, Sawyer Baker P, Allman RM, Roseman JM. Bereavement among African American and White older adults. J Aging Health 2007; 19:313-33. [PMID: 17413138 DOI: 10.1177/0898264307299301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The authors examined epidemiology and sociodemographic predictors of spousal, non-spousal family, and friendship bereavement among African American and White community-dwelling older adults using longitudinal data from 839 participants of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Study of Aging, a prospective cohort study of a random sample of Alabama Medicare beneficiaries. METHOD Authors calculated cumulative incidences of each type of loss and used logistic regression to identify factors significantly and independently associated with loss. RESULTS Of participants, 71% reported at least one loss; 50% reported non-spousal family loss, and 37% reported friendship loss. For married participants, the cumulative incidence of spousal loss was 8.1%. Female sex and income < $12,000 were predictors of spousal loss. Female sex and education >/= 12 years were predictors of friendship loss. Higher educated African American women were at greater risk of non-spousal family loss. DISCUSSION Future research should examine bereavement burden and identify health outcomes of multiple losses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beverly Rosa Williams
- Birmingham/Atlanta VA Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Birmingham VA Medical Center, 700 South 19th Street, Birmingham, AL 35233, and University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA.
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