O Connor CA, Patsdaughter CA, MacNaughton KA, Miller KH, Grindel CG; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 2000 Jul 9-14; 13: abstract no. ThPeB5117.
C.A. O Connor, E. Boston Neighborhood Health Ctr., 10 Gove Street, East Boston, MA 02128, United States, Tel.: 617-568-4620, Fax: 617-568-4415, E-mail: medeiros@ebnhc.org
Issues: With the advent of Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy (HAART) and extended life expectancy, agency sponsored memorial services for persons who have died of AIDS have been gradually eliminated. Yet family and friends who often do not disclose the AIDS diagnosis have limited resources for grieving. Description: The purpose of this study was to examine the meaning and value of an annual memorial service for families and friends who have lost a loved one to AIDS. The sample consisted of partners, children, parents, siblings, extended family members, and friends of patients who had received HIV care at an inner-city neighborhood health center since 1989. The study was conducted during the month preceding the 1998 service. Telephone calls were made to family and friends of 30 deceased patients. Telephone interviews using 4 open-ended questions were conducted with 34 individuals. Conclusion: The memorial service was attended by 60 family members and friends, 50% of whom were repeat attendees. Many persons reported that the memorial service provided their only outlet for openly acknowledging the loss of someone to AIDS. Although attendance was emotionally stressful, family and friends benefitted from the sense of community and active preparation/participation. Anger was expressed by a few families who felt their loved one had missed the opportunity to benefit from "drug cocktails". Memorial services serve a role in supporting grief work, particularly for inner-city families with few other resources. Since bereavement support is an integral component of AIDS care, nurses must advocate for the continuation of rituals of rememberance, particularly in the guardedly optimistic era of HAART.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Ceremonial Behavior
- Child
- Family
- Family Therapy
- Grief
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Health Services
- Humans
- Professional-Family Relations
- organization & administration
Other ID:
UI: 102241591
From Meeting Abstracts