Coping With Client Death: How Prepared Are Home Health Aides and What Characterizes Preparedness?
This study explored the experiences of 80 home health aides (HHAs) whose client died within the last 2 months. Data collection involved comprehensive semi-structured in-person interviews to try to better understand characteristics of HHAs and their clients associated with preparedness for death. Among those, personal end-of-life (EOL) care preferences of HHAs and having knowledge of preferences and decisions regarding client's EOL care showed significant links to preparedness. Findings suggest that HHAs' preparedness for client death could be enhanced both by addressing their personal views on EOL care and by providing more information about the client's EOL care plans.
a APP Cologne-Academy of Applied Psychology and Psychotherapy , Cologne , Germany.
Isabelle
I
van Riesenbeck
b Jewish Home Lifecare, Research Institute on Aging , New York , New York , USA.|c Department of Gerontology , University of Massachusetts Boston , Boston , Massachusetts , USA.
Kathrin
K
Boerner
b Jewish Home Lifecare, Research Institute on Aging , New York , New York , USA.
Adrita
A
Barooah
b Jewish Home Lifecare, Research Institute on Aging , New York , New York , USA.
Orah R
OR
Burack
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003643:Death; D005260:Female; D018576:Home Health Aides / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods
client death; direct care staff; end-of-life care; grief; home care workers; preparedness