The experience of grief among elderly people after the loss of a family member or significant person.

Abstract

Objective: To understand the experience of grief among elderly people after the loss of a family member or significant person.

Method: Qualitative research supported by the theoretical-methodological framework of constructivist Grounded Theory, carried out in three Basic Family Health Units in Northern Santa Catarina, between July 2022 and February 2023. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 24 bereaved elderly individuals and analyzed by initial and focused coding, with the support of NVivo® software.

Results: The data analysis allowed us to identify the experience of grief among elderly people after the loss of a family member or significant person as the central category, consisting of the following subcategories: identifying the power position of healthcare professionals; finding themselves without clarification at the time of loss; and receiving support from healthcare professionals.

Final considerations: The study showed that the experience of loss among elderly people is strongly mediated by interactions with healthcare services during the illness and death of a family member, in a context still permeated by asymmetrical relationships between professionals and users and by weaknesses in communication. In contrast, Primary Health Care demonstrated potential for establishing bonds, attentive listening, and follow-up care within the community for bereaved elderly people.