Nationwide Survey on Post-Bereavement Family Support Provided by Care Managers and Its Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

As Japan’s long-term care insurance system excludes support for bereaved families, care managers may provide this service for free. The extent and influencing factors of care managers’ post-bereavement support require quantitative investigation. To research this extra-role behavior, a nationwide random sample of 1,400 homecare support facilities was selected from among the 10,176 with Designated Facility I, II, or III certification. An anonymous, self-administered questionnaire was distributed to full-time experienced care managers. Approximately 80% of the 538 returned questionnaires reported involvement in supporting bereaved families. Factors associated with the support level included gender, years of professional experience, bereavement training attendance, organization type (non-profit), workplace initiatives for supporting bereaved families, and perceived importance of user-centered support. To support bereaved families, care managers must develop a relationship with them before the client’s death. Expanding bereaved-family support requires improving care managers’ education and training and raising awareness of the service.