EBSCO Logo
Connecting you to content on EBSCOhost
Results
Title

The bereavement experience of spousal caregivers to persons with dementia: Reclaiming self.

Authors

Peacock, Shelley; Bayly, Melanie; Gibson, Kirstian; Holtslander, Lorraine; Thompson, Genevieve; O’Connell, Megan

Abstract

Spouses of persons living with dementia both anticipate future loss and grieve for multiple losses occurring with caregiving and this ultimately influences their bereavement experience. Little research has been conducted regarding the bereavement experience in the caregiving journey with dementia and what does exist is mostly quantitative in nature. The purpose of this study is to describe the bereavement experience of spousal caregivers (n = 10) utilizing Thorne’s interpretive description. Thematic analysis revealed the features and facilitators of the bereavement process for spousal caregivers to persons with dementia. The unique contribution of this study to the dementia literature is the finding that the overall process of reclaiming self is significant to the bereavement journey. Future work should investigate identity as understood by spousal caregivers to persons with dementia, and further explore the processes, facilitators, and barriers to healthy bereavement in this population.

Subjects

BEREAVEMENT; PSYCHOLOGY of caregivers; DEMENTIA; HEALTH services accessibility; SPOUSES; THEMATIC analysis

Publication

Dementia (14713012), 2018, Vol 17, Issue 1, p78

ISSN

1471-3012

Publication type

Academic Journal

DOI

10.1177/1471301216633325

EBSCO Connect | Privacy policy | Terms of use | Copyright | Manage my cookies
Journals | Subjects | Sitemap
© 2025 EBSCO Industries, Inc. All rights reserved