Ms Melanie Oborne1
1Shared Crossing Project, Santa Barbara, USA
Biography:
Melanie Oborne is a psychologist specialising in grief and bereavement counselling, end-of-life care, and carer support. Their clinical practice focuses on accompanying clients through loss, life transitions, and the challenges of terminal illness. Melanie provides compassionate psychological care to individuals facing end-of-life and those supporting them through this journey. In addition to their therapeutic work, Melanie is a researcher with the Shared Crossing Project, contributing to the exploration and understanding of end-of-life experiences. Her work bridges clinical practice and research, deepening insights into how individuals and families navigate life’s most profound transitions.
Abstract:
Background:
End-of-life experiences (ELEs) encompass a spectrum of phenomena reported by dying patients, caregivers, and loved ones. While research has focused predominantly on experiences of the dying, caregivers and loved ones also report profound ELEs, including shared death experiences (SDEs), where individuals feel they participate in a dying person’s transition. The Shared Crossing Project investigates these under-researched phenomena to better understand their features, prevalence, and psycho-spiritual impacts on the bereaved.
Aims:
This study aimed to: (1) identify and categorise types of ELEs reported by caregivers and loved ones; (2) examine the phenomenological features of these experiences; (3) assess their effects on grief, beliefs about death, and bereavement outcomes; and (4) explore participants’ needs for professional support in processing these experiences.
Methods:
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 143 caregivers and loved ones from multiple countries who reported ELEs. Participants were recruited through conference presentations, online platforms, and referrals. Inductive content analysis was performed on interview transcripts and written accounts to identify recurrent themes, phenomenological features, and reported effects. Demographic data and contextual information were collected systematically.
Results:
Analysis revealed diverse ELE types, with participants reporting experiences occurring before, during, and after death. Common features included visions of the deceased, sensed presences, synchronicities, and direct communication. Key effects included: conviction of continued consciousness (83.9%), grief reconciliation (63.6%), reduced death anxiety (51.3%), and perceived ongoing bonds with deceased loved ones. However, 14.6% reported negative experiences related to social stigma and lack of validation when sharing their accounts, which may be palliative and hospital staff.
Conclusions:
ELEs are significant psycho-spiritual events for caregivers and loved ones that profoundly impact bereavement. Healthcare professionals require education about these phenomena to provide compassionate, informed support that facilitates healthy integration and processing within bereavement care.