Welcoming Death: Exploring exploring pre-death experiences of caregivers of older adults with dementia.

Abstract: The death of an elder with dementia often has an uncertain dying trajectory and has been referred to as “the long goodbye”. Researchers have found both positive and negative outcomes of anticipatory grief and loss for caregivers of individuals with chronic illnesses. This study explored the end of life experiences for 36 bereaved family caregivers of elders with dementia, focusing on understanding their experiences with anticipatory grief and loss. Findings include caregivers’ experiences with the phenomenon of “welcoming death” and highlights the primary reasons they anticipated, accepted, and/or wished for the death of their family member with dementia. With the overarching goal of improving bereavement outcomes and reducing feeling of guilt, inclusion of grief and loss support services throughout the caregiving journey are recommended.