'It's Not Like in the Films': Bereaved People's Experiences of the Deathbed Vigil.
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| Title: | 'It's Not Like in the Films': Bereaved People's Experiences of the Deathbed Vigil. |
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| Authors: | Caswell, Glenys1 Glenys.caswell1@nottingham.ac.uk, Wilson, Eleanor2, Turner, Nicola2,3, Pollock, Kristian2 |
| Source: | Omega: Journal of Death & Dying. May2025, Vol. 91 Issue 1, p136-153. 18p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Qualitative research, *COVID-19 pandemic, Families & psychology, Death & psychology, Attitudes toward death, Research funding, Bereavement, Terminal care, Critically ill patient psychology |
| Abstract: | This paper explores how people enact and experience the deathbed vigil when someone close to them is dying. It draws on qualitative interviews with 34 bereaved people carried out as part of a wider study exploring public perceptions of death and dying. Participants were aware of the expectation that they would attend the deathbed and did their best to do so. Findings are reported using four themes: gathering, enacting the deathbed vigil, experiencing the deathbed vigil and moment of death. Participants' experiences varied. Some families kept vigil as a group, while others established a shift system or waited alone. Activities at the bedside included reading to the dying person, talking amongst themselves, sharing memories, saying goodbye. The covid-19 pandemic highlighted families' wish to accompany their dying relatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Omega: Journal of Death & Dying is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
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| Abstract: | This paper explores how people enact and experience the deathbed vigil when someone close to them is dying. It draws on qualitative interviews with 34 bereaved people carried out as part of a wider study exploring public perceptions of death and dying. Participants were aware of the expectation that they would attend the deathbed and did their best to do so. Findings are reported using four themes: gathering, enacting the deathbed vigil, experiencing the deathbed vigil and moment of death. Participants' experiences varied. Some families kept vigil as a group, while others established a shift system or waited alone. Activities at the bedside included reading to the dying person, talking amongst themselves, sharing memories, saying goodbye. The covid-19 pandemic highlighted families' wish to accompany their dying relatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 00302228 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/00302228221133413 |
