Death and bereavement in Northern Ontario's long-term care facilities

Abstract

The formal and informal supports available to families, staff, and residents of long-term care facilities, along with how death was handled, were examined. With the assistance of long-term care staff, a survey was developed to gather this information. The results indicated that a variety of formal and informal resources were used by the 3 groups to cope with bereavement. Nurses in direct care of dying residents carried the responsibility of notifying the family, staff, and other residents of the impending and subsequent death of a resident. The average turn-around time to admit a new resident was 48 hours. The findings are consistent with the previous literature, and provide a basis on which standards of practice for bereavement can be developed.