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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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Caring for people who die
— the experience of family and friends | | Author(s) | Clive Seale |
| Journal title | Ageing and Society, vol 10, part 4, December 1990 |
| Pages | pp 413-428 |
| Keywords | Death ; Dying ; Family care. |
| Annotation | A survey of relatives, friends and others who knew the deceased in a random national sample of adult deaths in England forms the basis of this report. Comparisons of this 1987 sample are made with a similar study carried out in 1969. The sample of deaths was largely one of old people and changes in the family and household compositions of these people reflect changes in the wider population of elderly people. More lived alone, or in smaller family units and fewer sources of help during their final illness were available from relatives. Women were particularly disadvantaged, both as dependents and carers, who were then bereaved, often themselves left to live alone. The stress and the mixed feelings of carers are described. Nevertheless, a substantial minority were free of serious levels of dependency in their last year of life. Those dying of cancer formed a somewhat younger group, with shorter periods of dependency and greater availability of relatives to look after them. Many of the medical and nursing innovations in the care of the dying have focused exclusively on cancer. This study demonstrates the value of a broader perspective on death and dying that emphasises the needs of older people. (KJ). |
| Accession Number | CPA-910614012 A |
| Classmark | CW: CX: P6:SJ |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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