Faculty Mentor

Dr. Rie Kobayashi

Presentation Type

Poster

Primary Discipline of Presentation

Aging Studies

Abstract

Many terminally ill patients, specifically older adults often struggle with feelings of existential crisis. As they approach the end of life, their focus frequently shifts from asking, “What is the meaning of my life now?” to “What impact will my life have after I’m gone?” (Timoteo et al., 2024). In response, this poster explores how integrating legacy-building activities into end-of-life care can enhance individuals’ well-being while emphasizing the importance of offering these activities as a standard care option, given the limited awareness of their effectiveness. For instance, Hesse et al. (2019) found that legacy interventions improve psychological well-being by fostering meaning, dignity, and closure. Likewise, key findings reveal that individuals place high importance on emotional expression, preserving their identity, and enhancing their relationships with family and friends through this intervention (Hess et al., 2019) Legacy-building involves creating something meaningful that reflects a person’s life, values, and memories, reinforcing a lasting sense of purpose and identity. To illustrate, individuals can engage in this process through various forms, including writing letters, recording audio or video messages, compiling photo albums, creating artwork, or documenting personal stories (Vidal et al., 2018). Ultimately, this poster will review multiple literature sources and resources from the American Society on Aging (ASA) conference in Orlando, Florida, to examine the positive outcomes of these interventions—such as enhanced emotional and psychological well-being in end-of-life individuals—highlighting the significance of incorporating legacy-building into end-of-life care as an option to support individual’s emotional and psychological needs.

Comments

References

Hesse, M., Forstmeier, S., Ates, G., & Radbruch, L. (2019). Patients' priorities in a reminiscence and legacy intervention in palliative care. Palliative care and social practice, 13, 2632352419892629. https://doi.org/10.1177/2632352419892629

Timóteo, C., Vitorino, J., Ali, A. M., & Laranjeira, C. (2024). Legacy in end-of-life care: A concept analysis. Nursing Reports, 14(3), 2385-2397.

Vidal, C., Gonçalves, A. L., & Pavoeiro, M. (2018). support end-of-life patients. European journal of palliative care, 25(3).

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The Impact of Legacy-Building on Older Adults' Well-Being in End-of-Life Care.

Many terminally ill patients, specifically older adults often struggle with feelings of existential crisis. As they approach the end of life, their focus frequently shifts from asking, “What is the meaning of my life now?” to “What impact will my life have after I’m gone?” (Timoteo et al., 2024). In response, this poster explores how integrating legacy-building activities into end-of-life care can enhance individuals’ well-being while emphasizing the importance of offering these activities as a standard care option, given the limited awareness of their effectiveness. For instance, Hesse et al. (2019) found that legacy interventions improve psychological well-being by fostering meaning, dignity, and closure. Likewise, key findings reveal that individuals place high importance on emotional expression, preserving their identity, and enhancing their relationships with family and friends through this intervention (Hess et al., 2019) Legacy-building involves creating something meaningful that reflects a person’s life, values, and memories, reinforcing a lasting sense of purpose and identity. To illustrate, individuals can engage in this process through various forms, including writing letters, recording audio or video messages, compiling photo albums, creating artwork, or documenting personal stories (Vidal et al., 2018). Ultimately, this poster will review multiple literature sources and resources from the American Society on Aging (ASA) conference in Orlando, Florida, to examine the positive outcomes of these interventions—such as enhanced emotional and psychological well-being in end-of-life individuals—highlighting the significance of incorporating legacy-building into end-of-life care as an option to support individual’s emotional and psychological needs.