Promoting Self-Care and Daily Living Skills among Older Widows and Widowers

Evidence from the Pathfinders Demonstration Project

Bibliographic Data

ID13628452
AuthorsMichael S Caserta (University of Utah, Salt Lake City, corresponding author), Dale A Lund (0000-0003-1362-3680, University of Utah, Salt Lake City), Sarah Jane Obray (University of Utah, Salt Lake City)
Year2004
Volume49
Issue3
Pages217-236
Publication date2004-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueOMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0030-2228 • E-ISSN: 1541-3764
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.2190/9bh0-n565-y40g-qdn9
OpenAlexW2100802475
LanguageEN
Citations received10
References cited34

While most bereavement intervention programs for the recently widowed focus primarily on loss and grief issues, few, if any, specifically address ways to engage in necessary self-care activities, to assume new responsibilities that once belonged to their deceased spouse, and to remain socially connected to the larger community. The Pathfinders demonstration project was designed to provide important health and wellness information in a supportive environment where the participants could develop self-care and daily living skills and learn how to access additional community resources to meet their specific needs. This article describes changes in self-care and daily living abilities reported by the Pathfinders participants and ways in which they used what they learned in the classes to achieve health and independence and to meet the daily challenges of widowed life. Eight-four widows and widowers (age 50+) participated in one of five 11-week class sequences. Statistically significant, although incremental improvements over time were reported in active coping, health care participation, household management, home safety, and nutritional self-care skills. Almost all the participants reported applying at least some of the class content in their daily lives and nearly 70% sought additional information from sources outside the classes. After completing the program, many participants believed they were better prepared to take care of themselves and to address the daily challenges of widowed life. The results of the Pathfinders demonstration project suggest a promising new line of research focused on bereavement interventions other than those that traditionally address grief and loss issues alone

Activities of daily living · Coping (psychology · Grief · Independent living · Intervention (counseling · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Sociology · Spouse · Clinical Psychology · Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · Medicine · Nursing · Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues · Psychology · Gerontology

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