Talking About Death: Exploration of the Impact of Death Communication Norms on End of Life Caregivers
Location
Loosemore Auditorium
Description
PURPOSE: This study seeks to understand the experience of end-of-life caregivers and how their subscribed communication norms regarding death impacted their caregiving experience and preparedness to make decisions on their person’s behalf. SUBJECT: Eight participants were recruited from a Midwestern support group facility with a population of nearly 8,000 members that includes cancer and grief support members. Criteria required adult participants that were less than 10 years out from a caregiving experience. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Phenomenological research methods were used capturing eight opened ended interviews about participants death communication history, caregiving experience, and reflection on current death communication norms. ANALYSES: Thematic analysis was utilized to assess common themes amongst the participants. RESULTS: Themes assessed included patterns of communication norms in end of life with death communication associated with death experiences and eminent death and active end of life caregiving with care, directives, and wishes; previous caregiving experience and longer term caregiving was a protective factor impacting decision making; collaborative communication in caregiving was a protective factor and was associated with familial communication aligning with history of death communication being kept primarily within family units. CONCLUSIONS: Avoidant communication norms persisted in end-of-life care and was only addressed by participants when death was eminent and in the grief experience when participants sought out grief support. Future research into post caregiving intervention with support for grief counseling resources. Further support for early interventions for establishing end of life care directives and care decisions opportunities.
Talking About Death: Exploration of the Impact of Death Communication Norms on End of Life Caregivers
Loosemore Auditorium
PURPOSE: This study seeks to understand the experience of end-of-life caregivers and how their subscribed communication norms regarding death impacted their caregiving experience and preparedness to make decisions on their person’s behalf. SUBJECT: Eight participants were recruited from a Midwestern support group facility with a population of nearly 8,000 members that includes cancer and grief support members. Criteria required adult participants that were less than 10 years out from a caregiving experience. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Phenomenological research methods were used capturing eight opened ended interviews about participants death communication history, caregiving experience, and reflection on current death communication norms. ANALYSES: Thematic analysis was utilized to assess common themes amongst the participants. RESULTS: Themes assessed included patterns of communication norms in end of life with death communication associated with death experiences and eminent death and active end of life caregiving with care, directives, and wishes; previous caregiving experience and longer term caregiving was a protective factor impacting decision making; collaborative communication in caregiving was a protective factor and was associated with familial communication aligning with history of death communication being kept primarily within family units. CONCLUSIONS: Avoidant communication norms persisted in end-of-life care and was only addressed by participants when death was eminent and in the grief experience when participants sought out grief support. Future research into post caregiving intervention with support for grief counseling resources. Further support for early interventions for establishing end of life care directives and care decisions opportunities.