Transitioning from caregiving to widowhood

Digiacomo, M; Lewis, J; Nolan, MT; Phillips, J; Davidson, PM

Transitioning from caregiving to widowhood

Digiacomo, M

Lewis, J

Nolan, MT Phillips, J

Davidson, PM

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 2013, 46 (6), pp. 817 - 825
Issue Date:: 2013-12-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Digiacomo, M https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5484-8224	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Lewis, J https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8668-712X	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Nolan, MT	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Phillips, J https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3691-8230	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Davidson, PM https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2050-1534	en_US
dc.date.available	2013-01-09	en_US
dc.date.issued	2013-12-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 2013, 46 (6), pp. 817 - 825	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0885-3924	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/42167
dc.description.abstract	Context: Older women commonly assume a caregiving role for their husbands at the end of life and are more vulnerable to poorer health, well-being, and social and economic challenges. Objectives: The aim of this study was to ascertain older women's experiences of spousal caregiving at the end of life and the ways in which this experience impacts on the transition to widowhood. Methods: Longitudinal, in-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted with older women three times over a one-year period after the death of their husbands. This report focuses on the initial interviews that examined the transition from caregiving to widowhood. Transcripts were analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis methods. Participants were community-dwelling women older than 65 years who had recently been caregivers for their husbands who died within the past two years. Results: Older women caregivers described their caregiver role as taxing, particularly in light of their own chronic conditions that they failed to prioritize and address. They did not ask for help in managing their roles and health problems, but quietly endured. Hence, they did not communicate their needs or strains explicitly. The degree of perceived adequacy of communication and interaction with health professionals were important factors impacting on their bereavement. Conclusion: It is imperative for health professionals to appreciate that older women caregivers may need more supportive interaction and information during the end-of-life caregiving, they may have expectations of communication, and they may deny or fail to focus on their own health issues. A patient/family/carer- centered approach could negate this oversight and improve the outcomes for these women as they transition into widowhood. © 2013 U.S. Cancer Pain Relief Committee. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.	en_US
dc.relation	http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/GNT533547
dc.relation.ispartof	Journal of Pain and Symptom Management	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2013.01.005	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Anesthesiology	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Chronic Disease	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Longitudinal Studies	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Adaptation, Psychological	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Attitude to Death	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Attitude to Health	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Bereavement	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Widowhood	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Aged	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Aged, 80 and over	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Middle Aged	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Caregivers	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Women's Health	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	New South Wales	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Female	en_US
dc.title	Transitioning from caregiving to widowhood	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	6	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	46	en_US
utslib.for	1110 Nursing	en_US
utslib.for	11 Medical and Health Sciences	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/IMPACCT
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Nursing
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.issue	6	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	46	en_US

Abstract:

Context: Older women commonly assume a caregiving role for their husbands at the end of life and are more vulnerable to poorer health, well-being, and social and economic challenges. Objectives: The aim of this study was to ascertain older women's experiences of spousal caregiving at the end of life and the ways in which this experience impacts on the transition to widowhood. Methods: Longitudinal, in-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted with older women three times over a one-year period after the death of their husbands. This report focuses on the initial interviews that examined the transition from caregiving to widowhood. Transcripts were analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis methods. Participants were community-dwelling women older than 65 years who had recently been caregivers for their husbands who died within the past two years. Results: Older women caregivers described their caregiver role as taxing, particularly in light of their own chronic conditions that they failed to prioritize and address. They did not ask for help in managing their roles and health problems, but quietly endured. Hence, they did not communicate their needs or strains explicitly. The degree of perceived adequacy of communication and interaction with health professionals were important factors impacting on their bereavement. Conclusion: It is imperative for health professionals to appreciate that older women caregivers may need more supportive interaction and information during the end-of-life caregiving, they may have expectations of communication, and they may deny or fail to focus on their own health issues. A patient/family/carer- centered approach could negate this oversight and improve the outcomes for these women as they transition into widowhood. © 2013 U.S. Cancer Pain Relief Committee. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/26365