The Impact of Hospice on Attitudes toward Funerals and Subsequent Bereavement Adjustment

Abstract

One hundred and twenty-three bereaved individuals (M age=36) whose loved ones had died of a terminal illness within the last year completed a series of self-report measures to ascertain the impact of hospice care use on funeral participation and bereavement adjustment. As a general rule, hospice users (n=57) reported better post-death adjustment and participated more fully in the funeral than did non-hospice users (n=66). Such effects for the most part were intensified when a loved one was perceived as either having suffered or having been in pain prior to death. Extent of hospice use did not affect bereavement adjustment or funeral participation. These data speak to the psychological benefits of hospice use on the post-death adjustment of bereaved individuals, particularly in cases where the death is a painful one.