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Exploring Bereavement Care in Inpatient Settings
Annette F Street
Professor, Cancer and Palliative Care Studies; Director, Centre for Research in Nursing, School of Nursing, La Trobe University, Bundoora VIC
Anthony W Love
Deputy Head, School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora VIC
Jeanine Blackford
Palliative Care Research Fellow, Austin Health, Clinical School of Nursing, La Trobe University, Melbourne VIC
Abstract
This paper compares the attitudes and practices of health professionals to the provision of family-centred bereavement care in different Australian inpatient settings: palliative care services, acute care and long stay residential aged care settings. Semi-structured interviews (88) were conducted with doctors, nurses, pastoral carers and allied health staff.
Comprehensive bereavement care was not being provided or resourced in the acute and aged care hospitals to the same level as that provided in palliative care services. Residential care provided continuity of care and good support for grieving relatives and other residents. A structured bereavement program is needed in all inpatient settings with palliative care patients, along with resource and education support for health professionals.
Keywords
bereavement program, palliative care, residential aged care, acute care, nursing homes
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