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A Unique Life Balance: The Experience of Finding Balance During Bereavement For Older Adults After Spousal Caregiving

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dc.contributor.advisorHoltslander, Lorraineen_US
dc.contributor.advisorSemchuk, Karenen_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberTeucher, Ulrichen_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberSpurr, Shellyen_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberAndrews, Mary Ellenen_US
dc.creatorSalewich, Sarahen_US
dc.date.accessioned2013-01-03T22:27:20Z
dc.date.available2013-01-03T22:27:20Z
dc.date.created2011-10en_US
dc.date.issued2011-10-05en_US
dc.date.submittedOctober 2011en_US
dc.description.abstractABSTRACT Regaining a sense of balance in life after the death of a spouse is a very difficult journey. Evidence supports older spousal caregivers experience unique challenges that affect their bereavement adjustment. The methodology of interpretive description informed this secondary analysis of the experience of finding balance during bereavement. The purpose was to provide empirical evidence to generate new knowledge and expand our understanding of a phenomenon important to older adults experiencing bereavement after caring for their spouse with advanced cancer. The participants were ten men and women between the ages of 66-83 years of age in their first year of bereavement. The dataset consisted of 21 interviews and eight journals. The participants’ experiences were illuminated through words, stories, and reflections on their journey from caregiver to their lives lived without their spouse. Ten major themes and 15 subthemes emerged. Creating balance in bereavement reflected each participant’s quest to find a ‘new normal’, and sense of peace in areas of their life that were important to them. Discovering ways to nurture their unique life balance helped each participant grow and learn to carry forward while honouring the life of their spouses. The knowledge of finding balance in bereavement gained through interpretive description of this ‘insider’s perspective’ provides important insights for those in a strategic position to promote positive outcomes in the bereavement journey.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10388/ETD-2011-10-153en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.subjectbereavementen_US
dc.subjectfinding balanceen_US
dc.subjectcanceren_US
dc.subjectolder adulten_US
dc.subjectcaregiveren_US
dc.subjectspouseen_US
dc.subjectqualitativeen_US
dc.titleA Unique Life Balance: The Experience of Finding Balance During Bereavement For Older Adults After Spousal Caregivingen_US
dc.type.genreThesisen_US
dc.type.materialtexten_US
thesis.degree.departmentNursingen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineNursingen_US
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Saskatchewanen_US
thesis.degree.levelMastersen_US
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Nursing (M.N.)en_US

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