The purpose of this study is to seek the nursing intervention for the elderly people's positive lives by investigating the causes for their loss and its meanings. The method of this research derives from a phenomenological tool as a qualitative research design. The data collection had been performed from February, 2001 until August, 2001 through systematic interviews and participatory observations of six elderly people (4 elderly women and 2 elderly men) residing in downtown Seoul. It took one and a half hour for each interview arranged five times. The analysis of this research is based upon Giorgi method and the research results on the causes for elderly people's sense of loss and its meaning are as follows. 1) bitter disappointment of family members : unfaithful children, husband's infidelity, conflict with daughter-inlaw, economic hardships. 2) bereavement : loss of spouse or children, a sense of one's own mortality. 3) regret for the past : sorrowful things, unfair treatment, a sense of resentment, a sense of futility, a feeling of helplessness, despair, resignation. 4) unpleasant memories of others : hurt of self-esteem, hostile feelings aroused by betrayal or distrust. 5) grief of lost youth : loss of health, hard married life, unlucky fate. 6) sense of another superable life : regret, awareness, maturity through suffering. As a person ages, the number of deaths of close friends and family members usually increases. The occurrence of such multiple losses can cause the elderly to become overwhelmed by the events. Care givers need to be sensitive to these losses and need to be aware that the elderly can experience an overload of grief. Counselling can often be useful in helping them to come to terms with such multiple losses.

PURPOSE: This study sought to find a nursing intervention tool for enhancing elderly women's lives by investigating the causes and the meaning of their grief.
METHOD
This research was derived from a phenomenological tool such as qualitative research design. The data collection took place from December of 2000 until April of 2001 Through systematic interviews and participatory observations of five elderly women attending C welfare center located in downtown Seoul the data was collected. Each interview lasted an hour and a half and was arranged five times. The analysis of this research was conducted using the Giorgi method.
RESULTS
(1) There was obvious physical and physiological decline caused by aging old; as well as there being spouse health problems, additional physical suffering, signs of senility, adn insomnia, (2) Further grief was imposed by unpleasant memories of the spouse; infidelity, incapability, and even disregard of her own well-being, (3) Then there was pity for children; unfaithful children, uncertain futures of the children, and early death of a child, (4) Also, regrettable fate, painful daily acttrities, unreliable factors, bad circumstances, and feelings emptiness were reported, (5) Finally, anxiety for the future; ac sense of despair, loneliness, economic hardship, and the fear of imminent death increased grief levels.
CONCLUSION
A variety of programs and social meetings for the elderly to overcome their physiological or psychological crisis should be substantially developed and supported by the government. In order to implement the social welfare for the elderly women, special consideration whether on the governmental level or the personal level, should be devoted to the elderly who live without any financial support or social concern.