Bereavement care

Book chapter


Johnson, Amanda and Chang, Ester. (2014). Bereavement care. In In Johnson, Amanda (Ed.). Caring for older people in Australia : Principles for nursing practice pp. 575-598 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.
AuthorsJohnson, Amanda and Chang, Ester
EditorsJohnson, Amanda
Abstract

In developed countries, the majority of deaths now occur in those aged 65 years or older who are either in a residential, hospital or community setting, where care is primarily provided by nurses. Nurses are pivotal in the provision of palliative care to older people dying. The philosophy of palliative care acknowledges bereavement support as an equally important component of the care provided to those dying and their family (Maddocks, 2003). Therefore, when implementing palliation, nurses seek to identify those who are grieving and to manage the impact of this experience through implementation of supportive interventions both at an individual and organisational level. Through the experience of caring for older people dying, nurses witness pain, suffering and loss as part of their normal everyday practice. In this chapter, the concept of bereavement is described in the context of all those who may be bereaved: the person dying, other residents, family members, nurses and the organisation as a whole. It is the intention of this chapter to illustrate that being bereaved as a consequence of experiencing loss is a normal process, and one which should be promoted as a healthy response in all people affected by the loss of the older person resulting from death.

The purpose of this chapter is to assist you to understand what this means for you, other staff, the families and other older people you will need to support. It is important that you gain a deeper understanding of bereavement so you can recognise bereavement as a healthy outcome and promote this perspective in the workplace. The chapter will initially explore the concept of bereavement and differentiate between the terms associated with death and dying - that is, loss, grief and mourning - as well as consider their relationship to bereavement. The chapter will then discuss the principles of bereavement and apply these to nurses' everyday practice. It will conclude by examining the care interventions that need to be implemented to support other staff, families, other older people and yourself to engage in healthy bereavement and to reduce the likelihood of complicated grief developing.

Page range575-598
Year2014
Book titleCaring for older people in Australia : Principles for nursing practice
PublisherJohn Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd
Place of publicationMilton, QLD
EditionFirst edition
ISBN9781118384121
Research GroupSchool of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine
Publisher's version
License
All rights reserved
File Access Level
Controlled
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Print2014
Permalink -

https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/86wz5/bereavement-care

Restricted files

Publisher's version

  • 99
    total views
  • 0
    total downloads
  • 2
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month
These values are for the period from 19th October 2020, when this repository was created.

Export as

Related outputs

The experience of palliative care among older Chinese people in nursing homes : A scoping review
He, Flora Xuhua, Geng, Xiaowei and Johnson, Amanda. (2021). The experience of palliative care among older Chinese people in nursing homes : A scoping review. International Journal of Nursing Studies. 117, p. Article 103878. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.103878
An instrument to assess the education needs of nursing assistants within a palliative approach in residential aged care facilities
Karacsony, Sara, Good, Anthony, Chang, Esther, Johnson, Amanda and Edenborough, Michel. (2019). An instrument to assess the education needs of nursing assistants within a palliative approach in residential aged care facilities. BMC Palliative Care. 18, pp. 1 - 15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-019-0447-0
Generation of a function affect model for residents with advanced dementia
Chang, Esther, Edenborough, Michel, Nicholls, Daniel, Johnson, Amanda, Brownhill, Suzanne and Simard, Joyce. (2019). Generation of a function affect model for residents with advanced dementia. International Journal of Nursing Practice. 25(2), pp. 1 - 8. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijn.12718
Assessing nursing assistants’ competency in palliative care: An evaluation tool
Karacsony, Sara, Chang, Esther, Johnson, Amanda, Good, Anthony and Edenborough, Michel. (2018). Assessing nursing assistants’ competency in palliative care: An evaluation tool. Nurse Education in Practice. 33, pp. 70 - 76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2018.09.001
From Social Exclusion to Supported Inclusion: Adults with Intellectual Disability Discuss Their Lived Experiences of a Structured Social Group
Wilson, Nathan J., Jaques, Hayden, Johnson, Amanda and Brotherton, Michelle. (2016). From Social Exclusion to Supported Inclusion: Adults with Intellectual Disability Discuss Their Lived Experiences of a Structured Social Group. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities. https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.12275
Focus on Feeding! Evaluation of a framework for maximizing mealtime in aged care facilities
Chang, Esther, Brownhill, Suzanne, Bidewell, John, Johnson, Amanda and Ratnayake, Shyama. (2015). Focus on Feeding! Evaluation of a framework for maximizing mealtime in aged care facilities. International Journal of Nursing Practice (online version). 21(3), pp. 269 - 277. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijn.12260
Measuring nursing assistants' knowledge, skills and attitudes in a palliative approach: A literature review
Karacsony, Sara, Chang, Esther, Johnson, Amanda, Good, Anthony and Edenborough, Michel. (2015). Measuring nursing assistants' knowledge, skills and attitudes in a palliative approach: A literature review. Nurse Education Today. 35(12), pp. 1232 - 1239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2015.05.008
Advanced dementia
Chang, Ester, Johnson, Amanda and Hancock, Karen. (2014). Advanced dementia. In In Chang, Ester and Johnson, Amanda (Ed.). Chronic illness and disability : Principles for nursing practice pp. 294-313 Elsevier.
A decision model for community nurses providing bereavement care
Brownhill, Suzanne, Chang, Esther, Bidewell, John and Johnson, Amanda. (2014). A decision model for community nurses providing bereavement care. British journal of community nursing. 18(3), pp. 133 - 139. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjcn.2013.18.3.133
Simulation as a learning strategy: Supporting undergraduate nursing students with disabilities
Azzopardi, Toni, Johnson, Amanda, Phillips, Kirrilee, Dickson, Cath, Hengstberger-Sims, Cecily, Goldsmith, Mary and Allan, Trevor. (2014). Simulation as a learning strategy: Supporting undergraduate nursing students with disabilities. Journal of Clinical Nursing. 23(43924), pp. 402 - 409. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.12049
Spirituality and the nurse : Engaging in human suffering, hope and meaning
Rolley, John, Chang, Ester and Johnson, Amanda. (2014). Spirituality and the nurse : Engaging in human suffering, hope and meaning. In In Chang, Ester and Johnson, Amanda (Ed.). Chronic illness and disability : Principles for nursing practice pp. 60-80 Elsevier Australia.
Community nurses' perceptions of providing bereavement care
Redshaw, Sarah, Harrison, Kath, Johnson, Amanda and Chang, Esther. (2013). Community nurses' perceptions of providing bereavement care. International Journal of Nursing Practice. 19(3), pp. 344 - 350. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijn.12069
The impact of spiritual care education upon preparing undergraduate nursing students to provide spiritual care
Cooper, Katherine L, Chang, Esther, Sheehan, Athena and Johnson, Amanda. (2013). The impact of spiritual care education upon preparing undergraduate nursing students to provide spiritual care. Nurse Education Today. 33(9), pp. 1057 - 1061. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2012.04.005
Journeys with dementia
Chang, Ester and Johnson, Amanda. (2013). Journeys with dementia. In In Chang, Ester and Johnson, Amanda (Ed.). Living with dementia : A practical guide for families and personal carers pp. 1-11 ACER Press.
Touch, the essence of caring for people with end-stage dementia : A mental health perspective in Namaste Care
Nicholls, Daniel, Chang, Esther, Johnson, Amanda and Edenborough, Michel. (2013). Touch, the essence of caring for people with end-stage dementia : A mental health perspective in Namaste Care. Aging and Mental Health. 17(5), pp. 571 - 578. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2012.751581
Touch, the essence of caring for people with end-stage dementia : A mental health perspective in Namaste Care
Nicholls, Daniel, Chang, Esther, Johnson, Amanda and Edenborough, Michel. (2013). Touch, the essence of caring for people with end-stage dementia : A mental health perspective in Namaste Care. Aging and Mental Health. 17(5), pp. 571 - 578. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2012.751581
The impact of spiritual care education upon preparing undergraduate nursing students to provide spiritual care
Cooper, Katherine L., Chang, Esther, Sheehan, Athena and Johnson, Amanda. (2013). The impact of spiritual care education upon preparing undergraduate nursing students to provide spiritual care. Nurse Education Today. 33(9), pp. 1057 - 1061. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2012.04.005
Contemporary and innovative practice in palliative care
Chang, Ester and Johnson, Amanda. (2012). Contemporary and innovative practice in palliative care InTech. https://doi.org/10.5772/1270
Community palliative care nurse experiences and perceptions of follow-up bereavement support visits to carers
Chang, Esther, Bidewell, John W., Hancock, Karen M., Johnson, Amanda and Easterbrook, Sally. (2012). Community palliative care nurse experiences and perceptions of follow-up bereavement support visits to carers. International Journal of Nursing Practice. 18(4), pp. 332 - 339. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-172X.2012.02046.x
Understanding organisational culture in the community health setting
Johnson, Amanda, Hatcher, Deborah and Dixon, Kathleen A.. (2012). Understanding organisational culture in the community health setting. In In Chang, Esther and Daly, John (Ed.). Transitions in nursing : Preparing for professional practice pp. 45-59 Elsevier Australia.
The efficacy of complementary therapies for agitation among older people in residential care facilities: A systematic review
Watson, Karen, Chang, Esther and Johnson, Amanda. (2012). The efficacy of complementary therapies for agitation among older people in residential care facilities: A systematic review. JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports. 10(53), pp. 3414 - 3486.
Challenges in advanced dementia
Chang, Ester and Johnson, Amanda. (2012). Challenges in advanced dementia. In In Chang, Esther (Ed.). Contemporary and innovative practice in palliative care pp. 151-164 InTech. https://doi.org/10.5772/31294
Caring for families in the palliative care setting
Johnson, Amanda. (2012). Caring for families in the palliative care setting. In In O'Connor, Margaret, Lee, Susan and Aranda, Sanchia (Ed.). Palliative care nursing : A guide to practice pp. 257-269 Ausmed Education Pty Ltd.
Insights from clinical experts : 6.20: Palliative care nursing
Johnson, Amanda. (2011). Insights from clinical experts : 6.20: Palliative care nursing. In In Levett-Jones, Tracy and Bourgeois, Sharon (Ed.). The Clinical Placement : An essential guide for nursing students pp. 215-218 Churchill Livingstone.
Articulating Course Inherent Requirements: Risk and Response at the University of Western Sydney
Allan, Trevor, Johnson, Amanda, Azzopardi, Kirrilee, Azzopardi, Tony, Dickson, Cathy, Goldsmith, Mary and Hengstberger-Sims, Cecily. (2011). Articulating Course Inherent Requirements: Risk and Response at the University of Western Sydney. In C. Jenkin (Ed.). New Zealand: Equity Practitioners in Higher Education Australasia.