"They don't just disappear": acknowledging death in the long-term care setting

Palliative & Supportive Care
Janine MaitlandBill James-Abra

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe the value of a formal room blessing ritual held within a long-term care facility, from the perspectives of staff, residents, and family members. A qualitative research study involving interviews with staff, residents, and family members was conducted to examine the perceived value of a room blessing ritual. Twenty-four room blessing attendees participated in the study (nine staff, eight residents, and seven family members). Attendees felt that the room blessing provided an opportunity to formally acknowledge the death of the resident and their grief; the majority felt that this was a positive experience and that it provided an element of closure. Staff members and residents expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to connect with family members of the deceased to express their condolences during the ritual. Participants also identified the inclusivity of the ritual (i.e., an open invitation to all staff, residents, and family members) as a positive aspect that served as a reminder that others shared in their grief. Staff members felt that blessing the room for the new resident was an important component of the ritual, helping to bridge the gap between mourning and welcoming a ne...Continue Reading

References

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Citations

May 10, 2016·Geriatric Nursing·Hayley P GleasonAdrita Barooah
Oct 30, 2019·Journal of Holistic Nursing : Official Journal of the American Holistic Nurses' Association·Carolyn Fisher Atkinson
Jul 14, 2020·Omega·Marianne ViperEva Bojner Horwitz

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