The National Archive of Grief Support Studies
The National Archive of Grief Support Studies(NAGSS) database provides bibliographical information and summaries of recent articles selected for their relevance to grief and bereavement service providers. The articles that are summarized are selected from scholarly, peer-reviewed journals and are intended to highlight key concepts as well as provide a brief statement of implications for service providers. Bibliographical information may be used to obtain the original article.
Bereavement Practices Among California Hospices: Results of a Statewide Survey
Authors:
Foliart, Donna E.
Clausen, Margaret
Siljestrom, Cindy
Source:
Death Studies: 2001. Volume 25, pp. 461-467.
Summary
This article summarizes the results of a survey conducted in 1999-2000 by the California Hospice and Palliative Care Association. Of the 160 hospices that are members of the association, a total of 131 (82%) provided information on the bereavement services offered, the fees charged for services, and the educational background of bereavement staff. The research indicated that nearly all hospices provided some degree of bereavement support. Larger hospices and non-profit organizations tended to provide a wider range of bereavement support services than did small or for-profit organizations. Most of the hospices responding (89%) did not charge for grief support services following the death of a hospice patient. The employment status of individuals working at hospices included: paid employees (73%), volunteers (23%), and consultants (4%). Hospice staff members were most likely to have Masters in Social Work degrees, although a variety of educational backgrounds were represented.
Key words: hospice, service, support, volunteer
Service Provider Implications
This article provides information on the practices of California hospices regarding bereavement services offered, fees charged, and the educational backgrounds of bereavement staff. This information may be of interest to other hospices or centers offering grief support services. The variety of service offerings and the varied professional backgrounds of the staff suggest that there are many different ways to offer bereavement support programs. Practices that were widespread included using volunteers for some of the bereavement services, and offering most services free of charge.
