Abstract:  
Abstract: Making use of the crisis intervention model, this paper takes the example of H family living in the community of Sanyuanli Street of Guangzhou and makes a physiological, livingstyle and psychological analysis of the crisis caused by widowhood and its effect on the elderly who suffer spousal loss. After analyzing various crisis intervention theories, the paper develops an intervention approach appropriate to the victims, and meanwhile, it disapproves of either overprotecting or neglecting those elderly who suffer spousal loss. Currently, the primary task is to help the victims go through the crisis and the final aim is to assist them to get the ability to independently cope with any crisis which would happen in the future. Practice indicates that timely intervention into the elderly who suffer spousal loss helps them overcome the crisis, and become more positive and independent so as to face and get used to the new life after the loss.
 

Key words: widowed elderly; widowhood effect; case work; crisis intervention