Healthcare provider bereavement, part III

Disenfranchised grief deprives grievers from the normal social supports afforded mourners as well as the ability to take part in rituals. This limits support services unless offered by an employer or the like even though these grievers may find it difficult to access these resources as well. It may be possible to avoid much of the loneliness of disenfranchised mourning by engaging in resolution strategies. The healthcare provider may choose to attend the funeral of a patient or send a card to the family to obtain closure. They may also engage with the bereavement committee at their workplace and perform tasks such as the creation of a bereavement pamphlet for families. For the providers personally, they may prepare their advance directives or seek counseling.

A major change in thought that can aid in bereavement support is moving from trying to fix the problem and just offer pure support to the griever. Management should be involved and provide direct support. Supporters can enter each other’s pain to help ease it. This can create a kinship between coworkers and leadership, as development of strong social networks makes workplace bereavement easier. By having coworker backing, grievers have the benefit of shared history, values, and purpose as their supporters. These supporters know the griever’s strengths to remind them even in their darkest times, and they can often engage in storytelling and sharing to help mitigate grief.