Phenomenology of Pain and Suffering at the End of Life: A Humanistic Perspective in Gerontological Health and Social Work

Morrissey, Mary Beth

doi:10.1080/15524256.2011.548045

Cited by 22 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…Chronic pain is quite pervasive and is estimated to affect 36%, or about 120 million individuals, in the United States [ 43 , 86 ]. Morrissey [ 87 ], focusing on the illness and suffering of older adults, highlighted the negative effect chronic pain has on the quality of life of all sufferers and highlighting how this causes a focus in attention on the losses that come as a result of chronic illness or pain. Pain also affects our psychological well-being by making us focus on persistent thoughts and irrational beliefs (such as the earlier mentioned kinesiophobia) related to individual reactions to the experience of pain or illness [ 88 , 89 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Lonely, Isolating, and Alienating Implications of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Boulazreg

Rokach

2020

Healthcare

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This article provides a narrative review on myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) through a psychosocial lens and examines how this impairment affects its sufferers during adolescence and adulthood, as well as how it impacts family caregivers and healthcare professionals’ mental health. Since there has been a lack of investigation in the literature, the primary psychosocial stressor that this review focuses on is loneliness. As such, and in an attempt to help establish a theoretical framework regarding how loneliness may impact ME/CFS, loneliness is comprehensively reviewed, and its relation to chronic illness is described. We conclude by discussing a variety of coping strategies that may be employed by ME/CFS individuals to address their loneliness. Future directions and ways with which the literature may investigate loneliness and ME/CFS are discussed.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Lonely, Isolating, and Alienating Implications of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Boulazreg

Rokach

2020

Healthcare

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“…Definitions related to unresponsive to treatment included having “serious or life-limiting illness” (Morrissey, 2011), clients “who are living with and dying from life limiting illness” (Gwyther et al., 2005), and those who are “severely compromised” (Bern-Klug, 2004) and “terminally ill” (Altillo, Gardia, & Otis-Green, 2007; Anastas, 2011; Brandsen, 2005; Chan et al., 2005; Gardner, 2008; Hebert, 2008; Higgins & Altillo, 2008; Johnson & Stadel, 2007; Mackelprang & Mackelprang, 2005; McCormick, 2011; Miller, 2007; Miller & Hedlund, 2005; Robertson, 2009; Russell, 2015). These definitions focused upon unlikely recovery and failed curative treatments.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The End of Life Within Social Work Literature: A Conceptual Review

Holland

Prost

2019

Omega (Westport)

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The current conceptual review sought to identify and describe how the end of life was conceptualized and operationalized in top-ranking, peer-reviewed social work journals considering the highly individualized and multidimensional experience of dying put forth by modern scholars and social work practitioners. An iterative content analysis of included articles ( N = 103) revealed six themes within reported definitions and four themes within eligibility criteria. Definitions ( n = 66) related to treatment responsiveness, the death process, dying, prognosis, admission to specific services, and old age. Eligibility criteria ( n = 18) related to proxy assessment, diagnosis, prognosis, and functional ability assessments. Over one-third of included articles did not define what was meant by the end of life (36%; n = 37) and the majority did not include eligibility criteria (83%; n = 85). In conclusion, the complex lived experience of dying was not manifest within included articles raising important implications for research (e.g., measurement, meta-analysis) and social work practice (viz. service eligibility).

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“…Yet, she is clearly suffering. Psychological pain as well as physical, social and spiritual pain are all forms of suffering that limit the ability to cope with the liminality of living in AL at EOL and have been identified as an important public health problem (Bern-Klug, 2010; Morrissey, 2011)that have not received much attention in the AL literature.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contours of “here”: Phenomenology of space for assisted living residents approaching end of life

Vandenberg

Ball

Kemp

et al. 2018

Journal of Aging Studies

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Informed by theory from environmental gerontology, this study investigates how assisted living residents who are approaching end of life navigate and experience space. Since its development, environmental gerontology has moved beyond the concept of person-environment fit to encompass aspects of place attachment and place integration, processes by which inhabited impersonal space becomes a place of individual personal meaning and this person-place relationship evolves with changing needs. Our study is a secondary data analysis of in-depth interviews completed with the first 15 residents (mean age 88, range 65–103; 8 white and 7 black) recruited from four diverse assisted living communities in metropolitan Atlanta. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, we identify five overarching themes within and across assisted living communities and their subthemes. Findings show that participants experience a neutral theme of shrinking space, negative themes of confinement and vulnerability, and positive themes of safety and intimacy. Results dovetail with other phenomenologically based environmental gerontology research from community-dwelling populations that indicate behavioral changes to accommodate aging and health decline. Findings have implications for interventions to improve place integration in AL and enhance residents’ quality of life at end of life, including developing strategies to promote small meaningful journeys within context of shrinking life space.

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Phenomenology of Pain and Suffering at the End of Life: A Humanistic Perspective in Gerontological Health and Social Work

Cited by 22 publications

References 57 publications

The Lonely, Isolating, and Alienating Implications of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

The Lonely, Isolating, and Alienating Implications of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

The End of Life Within Social Work Literature: A Conceptual Review

Contours of “here”: Phenomenology of space for assisted living residents approaching end of life

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