Grief and Loss During Care Transitions: Experiences of Direct Care Workers

Stephanie P. Wladkowski, Nancy Kusmaul, Abigail Latimer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Direct Care Workers (DCW) provide both personal care to patients and emotional support to patients and caregivers in hospice and palliative care. DCWs often develop close ties and are then expected to work with new clients immediately following a care transition, with little or no time to grieve. A qualitative pilot study (n = 24) was conducted to explore the experience of DCWs during care transitions. Data was collected via focus groups and individual interviews. Thematic analysis was used. Results suggest DCWs managed their experiences (n = 19), by anticipating and accepting grief and loss (n = 21), employing personal coping strategies (n = 19), and saying good-bye (n = 15). Relational factors impacted the experience of care transitions (n = 22), including building and maintaining the relationship (n = 14), and the strength of perceived connections (n = 15). Increased organizational support and training to help address grief and loss will better support DCWs and the direct care workforce.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1308-1322
Number of pages15
JournalOmega (United States)
Volume87
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2021.

Keywords

  • care transitions
  • direct care workers
  • grief
  • home health
  • low wage workers

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health(social science)
  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine
  • Life-span and Life-course Studies

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