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Bereavement services in acute care settings
D P Fauri1, B Ettner, P J Kovacs
1Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, USA. dfauri@saun.vcu.edu
Death Studies
|August 1, 2000
Summary
Formal bereavement services in acute care settings are uncommon but crucial for supporting grieving families. Implementing these programs can alleviate distress and reduce long-term health issues for survivors.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Management
- Psychosocial Support
- Grief Counseling
Background:
- Families of acute care patients face grief in unfamiliar hospital environments.
- Formal bereavement services and planned follow-up are uncommon in acute care settings.
- Existing literature shows limited discussion on acute care bereavement services.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the need for formal bereavement services in acute care.
- To present the rationale for establishing such programs.
- To outline key elements and resource considerations for developing bereavement programs.
Main Methods:
- Literature review on acute care bereavement services.
- Analysis of the benefits of formal bereavement support.
- Identification of healthcare professionals well-positioned to lead these initiatives.
Main Results:
- Unresolved grief has detrimental long-term effects.
- Bereavement services reduce immediate distress and long-term morbidity.
- These services may lower future healthcare costs by preventing stress-related illnesses.
Conclusions:
- Healthcare workers are ideally suited to organize bereavement assistance.
- Developing formal programs requires defining need, rationale, elements, and resources.
- Even basic assessment and referral services offer significant benefits to survivors and institutions.