Loading...
I no longer feel alone': meeting the needs of bereaved grandparents through a children's hospice support group
Tatterton, Michael J. Lyon, J.A.
Tatterton, Michael J.
Lyon, J.A.
Publication Date
2020
End of Embargo
Supervisor
Rights
© 2020 MA Healthcare. This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in the International Journal of Palliative Nursing, after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see the link above.
Peer-Reviewed
Yes
Open Access status
openAccess
Accepted for publication
2020-10-09
Institution
Department
Awarded
Embargo end date
Collections
Additional title
Abstract
Children's hospices provide a range of family-centred care services, including bereavement support. Not all hospices provide specific services for grandparents.
To explore how a hospice-based bereavement support group supported grandparents in their grief following the death of a grandchild.
Methods: Grandparents attending a group were invited to complete an anonymous
questionnaire. Questionnaires from eight groups, run between 2015 and 2019 were collated and interpreted to identify themes.
Findings: 121 grandparents attended the groups; 113 returned the questionnaires (93% response). Three central themes were identified: environment and space, being with people who understand, and the opportunity to hear the stories of others. Grandparents valued hearing the stories of others, providing an opportunity to reflect on the experience of others.
Conclusion: Grandparents felt supported and validated by the group. The facilitated sessions increased coping and resilience of participants, enabling grandparents to support their partner, adult children and surviving grandchildren more effectively.
Version
Accepted manuscript
Citation
Tatterton MJ and Lyon JA (2020) 'I no longer feel alone': meeting the needs of bereaved grandparents through a children's hospice support group. International Journal of Palliative Nursing. 28(5): 193-201.
Link to publisher’s version
Link to published version
Link to Version of Record
Type
Article