Developing a comprehensive bereavement support program in palliative care: Utilization of minimum standards and their adaptation to local needs, service characteristics and resources.

Aim:
Whilst grief and bereavement are viewed as a natural experience with the loss of a loved one, complicated bereavement can be severely debilitating leading to the loss of optimal functioning. In the most severe of cases bereavement can be deleterious to physical, mental and spiritual health. In accordance with the National Palliative Care Strategy our service is in the process of developing a comprehensive bereavement program to meet National Minimum Standards in the context of local needs, service characteristics and resources.

Method:
After an extensive literature review of bereavement risk assessment tools used in palliative care services we developed one suitable for our service style and piloted it to over 100 relatives. We looked at three areas predictive of complicated bereavement: (1) was it a good death, (2) were there complex relationship factors, and (3) was there difficulties in the area of social support. The results of this pilot are discussed. Next we are comparing the efficacy of self referral vs. the risk assessment tool as identifying need/request for at risk bereavement follow-up.

Findings:
With the utilization of existing resources a bereavement service can be developed to meet National Minimal Standards. It appears that relationship factors and social support issues are the best predictor of those at risk of complicated bereavement. At the time of this abstract the service was about to undertake the second phase of this research comparing the efficacy of self referral vs. the risk assessment tool as identifying need/request for at risk bereavement follow-