Interventions for spousal bereavement in the older adult: an evidence review

The loss of a spouse is a significant psychological and physical health issue for older adults, the fastest growing age group in the United States. A search was performed to review publications over the last 20 years examining the effect of interventions on grieving processes for older bereaved spouses. Nine publications met inclusion criteria and were critically reviewed. Study designs, populations, and outcomes measured varied widely. All intervention types showed improvements in grief-related outcomes, but statistical significance of major measures between interventions and controls was absent in all but one study using a mind-body intervention. Recommendations for future studies include testing of secondary and tertiary bereavement types and categorizing grief patterns in study populations.