‘It’s Not Like in the Films’: Bereaved People’s Experiences of the Deathbed Vigil

Caswell, Glenys; Wilson, Eleanor; Turner, Nicola; Pollock, Kristian

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.

Citation

Caswell, G., Wilson, E., Turner, N., & Pollock, K. (2022). ‘It’s Not Like in the Films’: Bereaved People’s Experiences of the Deathbed Vigil. OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying, https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228221133413

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 28, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Oct 14, 2022
• Publication Date: Oct 14, 2022
• Deposit Date: Nov 1, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 2, 2022
• Journal: OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying
• Print ISSN: 0030-2228
• Electronic ISSN: 1541-3764
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228221133413
• Keywords: Life-span and Life-course Studies; Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine; Health (social science)
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/12888536
• Publisher URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00302228221133413