Living With Grief: Loss in Later Life
"Although hospice care is available to any terminally ill person,
the vast majority of patients cared for by hospice each year are older
persons. And any examination of information about demographic shifts in the
United States over the coming years suggests a phenomenal growth in the
aging population. The subject of Loss in Later Life, then, seemed an
excellent choice to add to HFA's series on Living With Grief. It was in fact
a topic that had been suggested by hospice and bereavement professionals
over the years."
--Jack D. Gordon, Chairman and CEO, HFA [Note: Mr. Gordon served as
Chairman and CEO of HFA until his death in 2005.]
Contents
Foreword
U.S. Senator John Breaux
Introduction
Jack D. Gordon
Part I: Death as a Fact of Later Life
1.
Age, Death, and Life Review Robert
N. Butler
2. Practical
Suggestions: Life Review: A Rewarding Activity
Michon Lartigue
3. Death in Life Kenneth J. Doka
4. Voices:
Preparing for Departure, Rounded Corners and All Richard C. Wald
5. Stories of the
Oldest-Old as They Face Death Lin
Noyes
Part II: Growing Old and Dying
6.
Loss and Alzheimer’s Disease Lin Noyes
7. Communicating
with Families during Advanced Illness William
Lamers, Jr.
8. Voices:
My Maggie Memories Denise
Jones
9. Spiritual Care
as Death Approaches Late in Life Paul
E. Irion
10. The Senior Population
and the Spectrum of Care William
D. Novelli
11. Practical Suggestions:
Linking the Generations Ashley
Davis Prend
12. Issues of Loss and
Grief in Long-Term Care Facilities Timothy
Keay
13. Lessons for an Aging
Population from the Hospice Model Stephen
R. Connor
14. Ethical Issues in
Hospice Care Mark H. Waymack
15. Practical Suggestions:
A Final Affairs Fair Jane
Louis
16. Disenfranchised Grief
Kenneth J. Doka
Part III: Loss and Grief in Later Life
17. Loss and Transition in
Later Life Phyllis R.
Silverman
18. Effects of Grief on a
Survivor's Health J.
Richard Williams
19. Facing Life Alone: Loss
of a Significant Other in Later Life Dale Lund, Michael S. Caserta
20. Faces of Grief and
Intimacy in Later Life Brian
deVries, Rosemary Blieszner, John Blando
21. Voices:
Adult Orphans Jack D. Gordon
22. Voices:
A Grandmother’s Grief Judy
Mann
23. Suicide in Older People
Patrick Arbore
24. Voices:
Reflections on Post-Traumatic Stress Myra MacPherson
25. Culture and Loss
Hosam K. Kamel, Charles P. Mouton, Deborah R. McKee
26. Making Sense of Loss
Robert A. Neimeyer
27. Counseling Later-Life
Families Janice Winchester
Nadeau
28. Expressive Therapies:
Piecing Together the Quilt of Life Virginia
Lynn Fry
29. Rituals and Stories:
Creative Approaches to Loss in Later Life Elaine Tiller
Conclusion
Resource List
Foreword
Senator John Breaux, Chairman, U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging
The U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, which I chair, continues to hold a series of hearings on long-term care, assisted living, family caregiving, and other issues that affect the lives of older Americans. As chairman, I have had the unique opportunity to talk to older people, their families, end-of-life counselors, and health professionals from across the country about the profound impact that loss and grief have on older people and the generations that succeed them. Their countless stories of the injustices suffered because of an often uncaring and ill-equipped long-term care system serve as a constant reminder of the dire need for change.
From committee hearings to my own experiences, I recognize the struggles, concerns, and issues faced by the bereaved and those who care for them. We must learn to better understand and prepare for death in both the emotional and practical sense and begin to recognize the growing need for end-of-life care and grief counseling services for older Americans.
As this book shows us, when a loved one dies we search for meaning in our own lives while struggling to hold onto memories of a precious life lost. Part of this search for meaning leads us to take stock of our accomplishments, relationships, and life experiences, while at the same time trying to make sense of the loss of an important person in our lives. How we as individuals deal with loss varies based on such factors as our relationship with the deceased, our cultural background, and our spirituality.
The issues associated with death and dying are becoming increasingly complex as more and more Americans are living longer. Old age is generally the time in life when death occurs, yet far too often bereavement for older people is misunderstood and ignored. It is important for us to understand that there is no correlation between frequency of loss and intensity of grief following a loss-the fact that death occurs more often in later life does not make the experience any easier to handle.
Coping with profound sadness after the death of a spouse, sibling, or lifelong friend can lead to an overwhelming emotional burden, especially for older persons dealing with multiple losses, their own failing health, and dwindling sources of support and comfort. Today more than ever, it is important to understand how loss and bereavement affect older people. It is important to try to improve the quality and expand the reach of mental health and grief counseling services designed to help them.
Increased longevity, coupled with the wave of 77 million baby boomers approaching retirement age, magnifies the issues of who dies, who grieves, and who cares for the sick and dying. Aging boomers could quite possibly find themselves supporting an adolescent child, caring for a sick spouse, and grieving the loss of an adult child or a parent all at the same time.
I believe this book will serve as a valuable tool for those facing the most difficult time in their lives and will prompt all Americans to lend a helping hand and a sympathetic ear to an older person who is suffering after a painful loss.
