TY - JOUR
T1 - Loss and grief
T2 - The experience of transition to residential aged care
AU - Zizzo, Gabriella
AU - Mackenzie, Catherine
AU - Irizarry, Carol
AU - Goodwin-Smith, Ian
PY - 2020/12
Y1 - 2020/12
N2 - There is growing recognition of the experience of non-death-related loss and grief. One unexplored area of non-death-related loss and grief is associated with older people’s transition from home to residential aged care (RAC). This paper reports findings from a qualitative study that explored the experiences of people living in RAC, carer-relatives of people living in RAC and RAC staff. Using theories of loss and grief, the paper identifies features of the transition to RAC that are associated with unresolved loss and maladaptation to changed circumstances, and the types of support that would mitigate these. Using a series of focus groups with both residents and carer-relatives, as well as staff, the study found that residents and their families need more support to negotiate the multiple, often necessarily hasty decisions and bureaucratic requirements associated with transitioning to RAC, while simultaneously experiencing loss and grief. The types of support that families would welcome from service providers include facilitating shared decision making, valuing family and community carer expertise and providing practical information and assistance to fulfil administrative obligations.
AB - There is growing recognition of the experience of non-death-related loss and grief. One unexplored area of non-death-related loss and grief is associated with older people’s transition from home to residential aged care (RAC). This paper reports findings from a qualitative study that explored the experiences of people living in RAC, carer-relatives of people living in RAC and RAC staff. Using theories of loss and grief, the paper identifies features of the transition to RAC that are associated with unresolved loss and maladaptation to changed circumstances, and the types of support that would mitigate these. Using a series of focus groups with both residents and carer-relatives, as well as staff, the study found that residents and their families need more support to negotiate the multiple, often necessarily hasty decisions and bureaucratic requirements associated with transitioning to RAC, while simultaneously experiencing loss and grief. The types of support that families would welcome from service providers include facilitating shared decision making, valuing family and community carer expertise and providing practical information and assistance to fulfil administrative obligations.
KW - aged care policy
KW - ageing
KW - loss and grief support
KW - non-death-related loss
KW - residential aged care
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85080973682&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/ajs4.105
DO - 10.1002/ajs4.105
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85080973682
SN - 0157-6321
VL - 55
SP - 474
EP - 491
JO - Australian Journal of Social Issues
JF - Australian Journal of Social Issues
IS - 4
ER -