Older men's feelings after bereavement

The study aims to analyse how the feelings involved after widowhood for elderly men affect their health. This is an exploratory, descriptive study with a qualitative approach. The research sample consisted of seven elderly widowers from module 16, aged over 60 who had been married for more than 20 years. Data was collected between February and April 2015 by means of a semi-structured interview. The data was analysed using Bardin's content analysis, and it was possible to detect that the feelings involved in the loss of a spouse affect the health of the elderly, generating the appearance of health problems or intensifying existing ones. The presence of feelings of depression, longing and sadness involved in the departure of the spouse was verified. It was found that most of the interviewees face this new social status with family support. The research provided a new insight into the profile drawn up by these elderly people of the ideal model of marriage and wife. Contributing to the care and management of these elderly people, providing better nursing care for the elderly who are widowed.