optimizing the mentaL health and resiliencE of older Adults that haVe lost thEir spouSe via blended, online therapy
COPING WITH THE LOSS OF THE PARTNER
An online self-help program that supports older adults dealing with the loss of their partner and with adapting to the new life situation.
WHY GRIEF MATTERS
Many older adults experience the loss of the partner. It is one of the most stressful events in older age. While after a certain time, most older adults successfully process their loss and return to a healthy and comfortable life, a significant proportion of people are unable to do this. They continue feeling lonely, sad or depressed and experience physical problems like poor sleep. These situations may end up in a prolonged grief disorder, a condition where grief symptoms occur longer than six months and impair daily life. To support older adults in their grief journey and assist them in returning to an active and meaningful life, the LEAVES project develops an online self-help grief program: LEAVES.
LEAVES DEVELOPED IN A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS
LEAVES consists of ten modules containing reading material and many exercises that will help mourners to reflect on their current situation, on their feelings and thoughts, and on how they can adapt to a life without the partner. LEAVES will also indirectly support close family members or informal caregivers. By supporting older adults to (re)discover their strengths, we expect that family and friends will feel less worry and stress regarding their close ones. In the LEAVES project, older adults, informal caregivers and healthcare professionals have, together with the project team, developed the LEAVES service model. Through iterative design and development with older adults and healthcare professionals, we have optimized the usability and user experience of the self-help program.
Het overkomt veel ouderen: het verlies van een partner. Waar veel ouderen goed om kunnen gaan met dit verlies, is er ook een groep die hier meer moeite mee heeft. Dit kan leiden tot verlengde rouw, wat op haar beurt weer tot gezondheidsproblemen als slechte slaap, hart- en vaat problemen of depressie kan leiden. In het LEAVES project zal een online service worden ontwikkeld, in de praktijk worden ingebed en geëvalueerd, die ouderen helpt om met dit verlies om te gaan. Binnen deze online service zal een virtuele agent ouderen uitleg geven, oefeningen aanbieden, en de mogelijkheid geven om te reflecteren op het leven met de overleden persoon. De service wordt online aangeboden, maar kan ook worden gecombineerd met bezoeken aan een ‘echte’ hulpverlener. Het project zal lopen van februari 2020 tot en met januari 2023.
Der Verlust des Partners oder der Partnerin ist ein einschneidendes Erlebnis. Die meisten Betroffenen können den Verlust nach einer gewissen Zeit selbst verarbeiten. Ein erheblicher Anteil ist dazu aber nicht in der Lage. Es entsteht eine anhaltende Trauerreaktion, die mit vielen psychischen und physischen Problemen einhergehen. Das LEAVES Projekt entwickelt einen digitalen Trauerbegleitungsdienst, der das Auftreten psychischer Probleme frühzeitig erkennen und vorbeugen, bei der Verarbeitung des Verlusts helfen und wenn nötig auch komplizierte Trauerreaktionen behandeln soll. Zudem wird LEAVES auch die Hinterbliebenen und informell Helfenden bei der Bewältigung ihrer Belastungen unterstützen. Für das Selbsthilfeprogramm wird ein virtueller Begleiter entwickelt, der durch das Programm führt. Wenn nötig wird das Selbsthilfeprogramm durch eine persönliche Beratung durch Fachpersonen per Telefon oder Videokonferenz ergänzt. Die aus dem Projekt resultierende Technologie wird in den Niederlanden, in der Schweiz und in Portugal eingeführt und auf ihre klinische Wirkung sowie ihre Benutzerfreundlichkeit getestet. Ziel ist es, bis zum Ende des Projekts 2023 ein marktfähiges Produkt fertig zu stellen.
A perda de um cônjuge ocorre frequentemente nos últimos estádios da vida. Enquanto a maioria dos idosos processa essa perda com sucesso e retorna a vida normal, uma proporção significativa (25,4%) desenvolve uma condição em que os sintomas do luto persistem levando a sintomatologia, como má qualidade do sono, problemas cardiovasculares, depressão, solidão e tendências suicidas. A fim de impedir o luto prolongado, ou tratá-lo, para que as pessoas mais velhas em processo de luto possam levar uma vida ativa, significativa e digna, vamos desenvolver um programa on-line de luto: LEAVES. O LEAVES será direcionado para utilizadores finais secundários (familiares, cuidadores informais), reduzindo o stress. O LEAVES ajudará estes idosos a processar a perda de um cônjuge num ambiente on-line empático. O LEAVES pode detectar pessoas em risco de complicações e descobrir tendências negativas na sua vida emocional e, assim, agir em conformidade. O serviço proporciona maioritariamente tratamento on-line, que será combinado com apoio por telefone ou pessoalmente quando necessário. O serviço LEAVES facilita o processo de luto, fortalece a resiliência e o bem-estar da pessoa viúva e acelera o retorno à participação na sociedade.
AAL research project
Leaves project is funded by the Active and Assisted Living Programme (AAL). It is a three country project, also financed by the following country agencies:
Co-financed by:
