Crisis of mate loss in the elderly

The crisis of mate loss in the elderly has severe implications for the physical and mental health of the surviving spouse. During the dying process of the mate, the spouse experiences an imbalance in needs and resources. The nurse is in a unique position to facilitate the resources of the spouse, particularly during the mate's dying process. The conceptual model for crisis of mate loss in the elderly describes the dynamics of nursing intervention and facilitation of resources such as interpersonal support, religious-spiritual belief, and intrapersonal coping.