Beyond grief: Quantifying bereavement needs of rural family caregivers

Beyond grief: Quantifying bereavement needs of rural family caregivers
Palliative and Supportive Care; by Catherine Vanderboom, Diane Holland, Cory Ingram, Brystana G Kaufman, Allison Gustavson, Jay Mandrekar, Ann Marie Dose, Ellen Wild, Carole Stiles, Joan M Griffin; 9/25
Family caregivers (FCGs) may experience numerous psychosocial and practical challenges with interpersonal relationships, mental health, and finances both before and after their care recipient (CR) dies. The specific challenges affecting rural FCGs who often have limited access to palliative care services, transitional care, and other community resources are not well understood... Bereavement support should extend beyond a focus on grief to include practical challenges experienced by FCGs. Because challenges experienced in the bereavement period often begin before a CR's death, there is benefit in continuity of FCG support provided by a known clinician from pre- to post-death. When given an option, many rural FCGs are open to bereavement support as early as a week after the death of a CR.