Centre for Policy on Ageing



Anticipatory grief therapy for older persons nearing the end of life
Author(s)	Joanna O Y Cheng, Raymond S K Lo, Jean Woo
Journal title	Aging Health, vol 9, no 1, February 2013
Publisher	Future Medicine, February 2013
Pages	pp 103-114
Source	http://www.futuremedicine.com/loi/ahe
Keywords	Dying ; Terminal illness ; Chronic illness ; Bereavement ; Therapy.
Annotation	Ageing brings about multiple and accumulating losses over a long trajectory of illness with deterioration in overall functioning with secondary losses in social and existential domains. The reality of anticipatory grief (AG) in older patients facing the end of life is easily overlooked with little provision of psychosocial support, especially for those ageing in institutions without integrated palliative care services. This article discusses the challenges that AG poses for the older patients, as well as the desired therapeutic outcomes through using this approach. The evidence base for AG therapy has been limited. Beneficial therapeutic approaches for AG-related constructs are reviewed, with recommendations to design interventions that target the AG of older patients facing different advanced conditions. AG interventions successfully implemented in the end-of-life care pathway may ensure optimal palliative care for the family. (JL).
Accession Number	CPA-130208203 A
Classmark	CX: CV: CI: DW: LO
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing

...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.