THE GUIDING POWER OF LOSS REFLECTION: FINAL MEMORIES AND FUTURE CARE

Abstract The life story framework emphasizes that past loss experiences guide current attitudes and behaviors. Final memories from the death of a spouse promote post-loss meaning-making. Through reliable narrative analysis, this study delineates positive negative affective sequences in final spousal older adults (N = 65; Mage 81.59). It also examines reported confidence successfully caring for another seriously ill close other future. Results demonstrate 62% participants narrated their with affect, 38% told semantic, affectively neutral narratives. Additionally, those who or exhibited more future caregiving than memories, t 2.24, p < .05. As care systems are increasingly reliant on family members to provide car ill, links between experiences, confidence, mastery emerge as areas research prioritization.