Pathfinders: A self-care and health education program for older widows and widowers

Abstract

Recent studies suggest that the loss of a spouse can be disruptive to the survivor's self-care and health promotion practices, especially for those who lack the knowledge and skills to successfully engage in these behaviors. Pathfinders is a theoretically and research-based self-care and health education program for recently widowed persons aged 50 and older. This article describes the program's structure, content, and recruitment methods. Preliminary evaluation data suggest that the program is achieving many of the intended outcomes. Issues pertaining to replication as well as limitations are discussed.