'Unprepared for the depth of my feelings' - Capturing grief in older people through research poetry.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Older people are more likely to experience bereavements than any other age group. However, in healthcare and society, their grief experiences and support needs receive limited attention. Through innovative, arts-based research poetry, this study aimed to capture older people's bereavement stories and the effects of grief on their physical and mental health.

Method

Semi-structured in-depth interviews with 18 bereaved older adults were analysed using thematic and poetic narrative analysis, following a five-step approach of immersion, creation, critical reflection, ethics and engagement.

Results

Research poems were used to illustrate three themes of bereavement experiences among older adults: feeling unprepared, accumulation of losses and ripple effects of gri

SUBMITTER: Gerber K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9171723 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature