Volume 21, Issue 2 (Summer 2026)
Salmand: Iranian Journal of Ageing 2026, 21(2): 282-303 |
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Abdoljabari M, Hamzezadeh H, Hamedanchi A, Shameli R. Exploring Iranian Female Family Caregivers’ Lived Experiences of the End-of-Life Stage and Death of Older Adults: A Qualitative Study. Salmand: Iranian Journal of Ageing 2026; 21 (2) :282-303
URL: http://salmandj.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-3101-en.html
URL: http://salmandj.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-3101-en.html
1- Religion and Health Studies Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
2- Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Branch, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran. & School of Medical Education & Learning Technologies, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
3- Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Branch, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran.
4- Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Branch, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran. ,r.shameli87@gmail.com
2- Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Branch, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran. & School of Medical Education & Learning Technologies, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
3- Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Branch, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran.
4- Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Branch, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran. ,
Abstract: (2441 Views)
Objectives Given the rapid growth of the older population and declining fertility rates in Iran, the care of older adults, particularly during the final stages of life, has become increasingly dependent on informal caregivers, especially women. Caring for an older adult is a challenging and unique journey, and caregivers’ lived experiences may vary considerably. Therefore, this phenomenological study aimed to explore female informal caregivers’ lived experiences of the final stages of life and the death of older adults.
Methods & Materials This is a qualitative study using a phenomenological approach conducted from April 2023 to December 2024 in Tehran, Iran. Ten female family caregivers (wife, daughter, or daughter-in-law) who had experienced the death of an older adult under their care were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected via in-depth, semi-structured interviews, recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using Colaizzi’s seven-step method. To ensure trustworthiness, Guba’s four criteria were applied.
Results Data analysis revealed six main themes: Heaviness of caregiving burden, compassionate caregiving, psychosocial driving forces, gradual acceptance of an inevitable truth, being or not being, and keep living after loss.
Conclusion Female family caregivers of older adults in Iran face profound emotional and psychological challenges during the end-of-life stage and after the death of their older adults, which may adversely affect their physical and mental health. A deeper understanding of these lived experiences can be helpful in designing supportive, educational, and counseling interventions tailored to their needs.
Methods & Materials This is a qualitative study using a phenomenological approach conducted from April 2023 to December 2024 in Tehran, Iran. Ten female family caregivers (wife, daughter, or daughter-in-law) who had experienced the death of an older adult under their care were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected via in-depth, semi-structured interviews, recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using Colaizzi’s seven-step method. To ensure trustworthiness, Guba’s four criteria were applied.
Results Data analysis revealed six main themes: Heaviness of caregiving burden, compassionate caregiving, psychosocial driving forces, gradual acceptance of an inevitable truth, being or not being, and keep living after loss.
Conclusion Female family caregivers of older adults in Iran face profound emotional and psychological challenges during the end-of-life stage and after the death of their older adults, which may adversely affect their physical and mental health. A deeper understanding of these lived experiences can be helpful in designing supportive, educational, and counseling interventions tailored to their needs.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Psychology
Received: 2025/08/01 | Accepted: 2025/12/14 | Published: 2026/07/01
Received: 2025/08/01 | Accepted: 2025/12/14 | Published: 2026/07/01
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