Death And Bereavement

Question 0

Which people have poorer and health and die sooner?

Answer 0

Less wealthy

Question 1

What percentage of deaths are of people over 75?

Answer 1

67%

Question 2

What factors can affect when you die?

Answer 2

Gender
Age
Socioeconomic differences

Question 3

What are the three main patterns of dying? Give examples

Answer 3

Gradual death - slow decline in ability and health eg cancer, motor neurone disease

Catastrophic death - through sudden or unexpected event eg heart attack or accident

Premature death - children and young adults through accident/illness

Question 4

What are some common initial reactions to new of a terminal illness?

Answer 4

Shock
Numbness
Disbelief
Confusion
May find it difficult to take in what is being said 
Can make decision making difficult

Question 5

What are the 5 stages of adjusting to the idea of dying?

Answer 5

Denial
Anger
Bargaining
Depression
Acceptance

Question 6

Which stage of the process of accepting a long term illness may require counselling?

Answer 6

Depression - needed to help them move on from this stage and or acceptance

Question 7

Why might people go into denial?

Answer 7

As a coping mechanism

Question 8

What are issues with denial?

Answer 8

Can be a barrier to healthcare

Question 9

What should the doctor do when the patient is in denial?

Answer 9

Respect any desires not to know about things
Offer written information for the patient to look at with their family
Check and review over time to see when patient is ready

Question 10

What symptoms are often seen after experiencing bereavement?

Answer 10

Loss
Grief
Mourning

Question 11

What is grief?

Answer 11

A set of psychological and physical reactions to bereavement
-normal reaction to overwhelming loss, albeit a reaction in which normal functioning no longer holds

Question 12

What happens in the grieving process?

Answer 12

Disbelief and shock in early stages
Developing awareness - anger, guilt, anxiety, depression
Resolution

Question 13

What is bereavement associated with?

Answer 13

Increased risk of illness and mortality
-particularly for older people who lose their spouse and social support

From the effects of severe stressors on the body
CVS events and suicide

Question 14

Symptoms of grief?

Answer 14

Physical - shortness of breath, palpitations, fatigue, digestive symptoms, reduced immune function

Behavioural - insomnia, irritability, crying, social withdrawal

Emotional - depression, anxiety, anger, guilt, loneliness

Cognitive - lack of concentration, memory loss, preoccupation, hopelessness, disturbance of identity, visual and auditory hallucinations

Question 15

What happens to people who experience brief after two years?

Answer 15

85% adjust to bereavement and experience minimal grief

15% experience chronic grief

Question 16

What happens in chronic grief?

Answer 16

Anxiety
Depression
PTSD a

Question 17

What are risk factors for chronic death following bereavement?

Answer 17

Prior bereavements
Mental health
Type of loss (young, nature of death, caring status)
Expression of grief discouraged
Ending of grief discouraged eg guilty about moving on to someone else

Question 18

Why may relatives feel unable to provide home care?

Answer 18

Lack of support, advice, concerns about pain management

Question 19

Aims of palliative care?

Answer 19

Improve quality of life
Manage emotional and physical symptoms
Support patients to live productively
Give patients some control