Question

II. Death, Dying and Bereavement

a) When 5 year old Timmy’s kidney failure was diagnosed as terminal, his parents could not accept the tragic news. Their hospital visits became shorter, and they evaded his anxious questions. Eventually, Timmy blamed himself. He died with little physical pain but alone, and his parents suffered prolonged guilt. Explain how hospice care could have helped Timmy and his family.

b) Cite examples of age-graded influences on the grieving process.

Answer 1

a) Hospice care would have been a good option for both Timmy and his family. First of all, it would have helped his parents accept his condition, deal with their emotions and guide them through to this situation. The hospice would have also provided them grief and bereavement therapy or counselling to function in better ways when they were with the patient and even after he had passed away.

Secondly, it would have helped Timmy in understanding his condition in a better way and provided him with a comfortable, loving and positive environment. Since the hospice facility can be provided at hospitals, nursing homes or even at the patient's home, the team of professionals such as physicians, psychologists etc. could have benefitted him by providing special care regimen.

Thirdly, hospice care could have helped Timmy and his family by addressing their emotional, physical and mental needs, decreasing the guilt faced by both Timmy and his parents, guide them through the financial overload etc.

b) Premature death of a loved one( for instance, losing a child) is considered as non-normative age-graded factor which influences the grieving process. Both the age of the deceased and the family's attachment to the deceased (i.e., the child) affects the intensity of their grief. As the child's sole caregivers they may feel guilty, lose their hopes. Their grieving process is often considered as highly disorderd.