Changes in Routine Health Behaviors Following Late-life Bereavement: A Systematic Review

Stahl, Sarah T.; Schulz, Richard

doi:10.1007/s10865-013-9524-7

Cited by 78 publications

(67 citation statements)

References 65 publications

(151 reference statements)

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“…Caregivers' severe depressive‐symptom prevalence decreased significantly after 13 months of bereavement, consistent with reports that acute grief reactions to the death of a beloved generally resolve within 6 to 12 months . In addition, bereaved caregivers' mental health‐related QOL improved significantly throughout the first 2 bereavement years, whereas their physical health‐related QOL remained steady, despite abundant evidence that losing a beloved can create numerous somatic health problems for bereaved caregivers . Our results suggest that bereaved caregivers can move on after their loss, especially considering that their severe depressive‐symptom prevalence was significantly lower after 3 months postloss than when they were caregiving (Table ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Associations of preloss and postloss factors with severe depressive symptoms and quality of life over the first 2 years of bereavement for family caregivers of terminally ill cancer patients

et al. 2019

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Background Family caregivers carry heavy end‐of‐life (EOL) caregiving burdens, with their physical and psychological well‐being threatened from caregiving to bereavement. However, caregiving burden has rarely been examined as a risk factor for bereavement adjustment to disentangle the wear‐and‐tear vs relief models of bereavement. Objective/Methods Preloss and postloss variables associated with severe depressive symptoms and quality of life (QOL) for 201 terminally ill cancer patients' caregivers over their first 2 years of bereavement were simultaneously evaluated using multivariate hierarchical linear modeling. Severe depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale score > 16) and QOL (physical and mental component summaries of the Medical Outcomes Study Short‐Form Health Survey) were measured 1, 3, 6, 13, 18, and 24 months postloss. Results Caregivers' likelihood of severe depressive symptoms and mental health‐related QOL improved significantly from the second year and throughout the first 2 years of bereavement, respectively, whereas physical health‐related QOL remained steady over time. Higher subjective caregiving burden and postloss concurrent greater social support and better QOL were associated with bereaved caregivers' lower likelihood of severe depressive symptoms. Bereaved caregivers' mental health‐related QOL was facilitated and impeded by concurrent greater perceived social support and severe depressive symptoms, respectively. Conclusion Severe depressive symptoms and mental health‐related QOL improved substantially, whereas physical health‐related QOL remained steady over the first 2 years of bereavement for cancer patients' caregivers. Timely referrals to adequate bereavement services should be promoted for at‐risk bereaved caregivers, thus addressing their support needs and facilitating their bereavement adjustment.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Associations of preloss and postloss factors with severe depressive symptoms and quality of life over the first 2 years of bereavement for family caregivers of terminally ill cancer patients

et al. 2019

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“…The present study found that residents’ physical activity and functional independence were influenced by a number of factors, as did earlier studies: ageism (Swift, Abrams, Lamont, & Drury, ), social capital (Lees et al, ) and loss of a loved one (Stahl & Schulz, ), illness or pain (Schutzer & Graves, ) and staff support (Henwood, Neville, Baguley, & Beattie, ). Chen () found that past sedentary lifestyle was one barrier to physical activity in residential aged care.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

How do residents of aged care homes perceive physical activity and functional independence? A qualitative study

Jeon

Tudball

Nelson³

2019

Health Soc Care Community

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Limited evidence exists concerning knowledge and understanding of how to optimally support residents’ physical activity, mobility and functional independence in residential aged care homes. An interpretive qualitative study was conducted to explore residents’ perceptions and experiences of opportunities for physical activity and functional independence, and how physical activity and functional independence are challenged in their care home environment. Purposefully sampled 24 participants (male = 13) from five not‐for‐profit residential aged care homes in the outskirts of a metropolitan area in Australia, were interviewed between August and September 2017. Maintaining independence was found to be the utmost priority for nearly all participants in this study. Yet, many did not make the connection between physical activity and independence, and regarded ‘exercise’ as an inappropriate activity for them, perceiving it as high‐impact, high‐intensity activity in commercial gyms that was only appropriate for the young. Walking and gardening were found to be most popular. Walking could be a physical activity, social activity, solo recreational activity and a means of maintaining mobility and functional independence—all of which residents considered to be appropriate to them and achievable. The study identified key factors influencing physical activity and functional independence of residents: levels of activity prior to living in residential aged care, ageism, social capital and loss of a loved one, pain and staff support. Findings highlight the need for a ‘flexible and inclusive’ approach in facilitating the resident's physical activity, and a greater role for staff in encouraging residents’ engagement in, and communicating the benefits and requirements of, physical activity, through, for example, motivational interviewing.

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“…This gap between abilities and demands, which can vary among individuals given their unique situations and contexts, justifies tailored intervention strategies that improve skills such as mastering tasks of daily living, engaging in self-care behaviors, and functioning socially as a single or uncoupled person in society (Caserta et al, 2004; Stahl & Schulz, 2014; Utz, 2006). Thus, an individually-delivered intervention is particularly relevant for those whose spouse/partner died after a terminal illness like cancer because they may be better helped by an approach that is tailored to their specific needs (Bergman & Haley, 2009; Burton, Zdaniuk, Schulz, Jackson, & Hirsch, 2003; Caserta et al, 2013; Patterson & Dorfman, 2002; Penson, Green, Chabner, & Lynch, 2002).…”

Section: Partners In Hospice Care (Phc): the Emergence Of An Individumentioning

confidence: 99%

“One Size Doesn’t Fit All”—Partners in Hospice Care, an Individualized Approach to Bereavement Intervention

et al. 2015

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We concluded in a recent study that a “one size fits all” approach typical of group interventions often does not adequately accommodate the range of situations, life experiences, and current needs of participants. We describe how this limitation informed the design and implementation of an individually-delivered intervention format more specifically tailored to the unique needs of each bereaved person. The intervention comprises one of three interrelated studies within Partners in Hospice Care (PHC), which examines the trajectory from end-of-life care through bereavement among cancer caregivers using hospice. The PHC intervention employs an initial needs assessment in order to tailor the session content, delivery, and sequencing to the most pressing, yet highly diverse needs of the bereaved spouses/partners. Although an individually-delivered format has its own challenges, these can be effectively addressed through standardized interventionist training, regular communication among staff, as well as a flexible approach toward participants’ preferences and circumstances.

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Changes in Routine Health Behaviors Following Late-life Bereavement: A Systematic Review

Cited by 78 publications

References 65 publications

Associations of preloss and postloss factors with severe depressive symptoms and quality of life over the first 2 years of bereavement for family caregivers of terminally ill cancer patients

Associations of preloss and postloss factors with severe depressive symptoms and quality of life over the first 2 years of bereavement for family caregivers of terminally ill cancer patients

How do residents of aged care homes perceive physical activity and functional independence? A qualitative study

“One Size Doesn’t Fit All”—Partners in Hospice Care, an Individualized Approach to Bereavement Intervention

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