Tsukamoto Naoko

The bereavement of spouses is the most serious trial in one's lifetime. We conducted a survey on the bereavement of people sixty five and over in rural areas in Japan from October '94 to September '95. Findings from this survey are as follows. 1. Elderly bereaved persons in Japan's rural society experience a mild grief process. 2. However, the following cases need social supports; 1) in the case that the elderly bereaved became alone and get little support from their friends and relatives, 2) in the case that they had no time for preparation psychologically because their spouses' death happened suddenly, 3) in the case that they have great difficulty in everyday life, 4) in the case that they are sickly and also have economical anxiety, 5) in the case that they have a strong anger and blame physicians for their spouses'death, 6) in the case that even though they live with their family, their personal relationships are not good. 3. We should start with the present system of visiting nursing as a social support for the elderly bereaved and add a counselling system to it. Still more, some kind of volunteer groups to care for the elderly bereaved and other support groups for them are now needed.