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Supporting adults with an intellectual disability during experiences of loss and bereavement: staff views, experiences and suggestions for training
- Authors:
- McEVOY John, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 23(6), November 2010, pp.585-596.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Care staff are a source of support and information for people with intellectual disabilities (ID) following a bereavement. How staff perceive the loss experience has implications for the quality and level of support provided to individuals with ID at times of personal loss. This study investigated staff knowledge and attitudes to bereavement, experiences of supporting people with ID during times of loss, the degree of service agency support and staff training needs. Twenty-four staff members participated. Staff reported a lack of confidence and uncertainty, particularly around operational procedures following bereavement. Conflicting attitudes between themselves and the service agency around bereavement support procedures and a lack of awareness of the emotional impact of grief on service users and staff were highlighted by participants along with the need for quality information, skill development and further training. The paper concluded that service agencies need to be more proactive in supporting staff and in developing policy and guidelines in conjunction with practical training initiatives.
Caregiver perceptions of the understanding of death and need for bereavement support in adults with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- MacHALE Rosemary, McEVOY John, TIERNEY Edel
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 22(6), November 2009, pp.574-581.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Care staff are an important source of information and support for people with intellectual disabilities following bereavement. This study explored staff perceptions of service users' conceptualisations of death, reactions to bereavement, required levels of support and staff confidence in providing post-bereavement support. Forty-two staff rated individuals with intellectual disabilities with whom they worked on a regular basis. In general, staff believed that service users had a good concept of death, though staff tended to overestimate levels of understanding and possibly underestimate the potential for dysfunctional behaviour post-bereavement. Although staff expressed confidence in their ability to recognise grief symptoms, they were less confident in their ability to provide post-bereavement support. The implications for staff training and post-bereavement support are considered.