 How well are we caring for caregivers? Prevalence of grief-related symptoms and need for bereavement support among long-term care staff To define the prevalence and correlates of grief-related symptoms among long-term
care staff who care for patients near the end of life, a cross-sectional survey
was conducted at six Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) organizations
that provide long-term care in the home and in institutions. All clinical and
non-clinical program staff were surveyed to examine the prevalence of 20 grief-related
symptoms and assess current sources of bereavement support, as well as willingness
to use additional sources of support. Surveys were completed by 203/236 staff
(86%), who described a wide variety of symptoms they attributed to the death
of one of their patients in the past month. Most staff (147/203; 72%) reported
at least one symptom. Staff with more symptoms had experienced more patient
deaths in the past month, had worked for a longer time at a PACE organization,
and reported a closer and longer relationship with the last patient who died.
Although staff identified several informal sources of bereavement support (mean
2.3 sources, range 0-6), almost all (n = 194; 96%) said they would use additional
support services if they were offered. These community-based long-term care
staff experience a variety of symptoms attributable to the deaths of their patients,
and would welcome additional sources of bereavement support. Rickerson EM, Somers
C, Allen CM, Lewis B, Strumpf N, Casarett DJ. Adapted from J
Pain Symptom Manage.
2005 Sep;30(3):227-33. |
| Department of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care Beth Israel Medical Center, New York City ©2005 Continuum Health Partners, Inc. www.stoppain.org/palliative_care |
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