Grief experiences among family caregivers after providing palliative end-of-life care

Abstract

This study explores the diverse experiences of family caregivers providing palliative end-of-life care, focusing on their coping strategies during caregiving and their grief responses post-caregiving. Analyzing demographic profiles, the study reveals that caregivers are predominantly women, spanning various ages, socio-economic backgrounds, and familial relationships. Caregiving durations and financial conditions also vary widely, highlighting the need for tailored support services. The thematic analysis identifies two major coping strategies: avoidance (including “Freeze” and “Flight”) and approach (including “Plan” and “Act”). Participants predominantly employed “Act” strategies, reflecting proactive engagement with caregiving challenges. Post-caregiving grief responses were categorized into four sub-themes: prolonged grief, anticipatory grief, irregular grief, and normal grief. The study underscores the necessity of personalized support programs that address both coping strategies during caregiving and diverse grief responses afterward. Recommendations include developing flexible support services that provide financial assistance, emotional support, and practical resources, as well as grief support tailored to different grief experiences. By aligning interventions with the varied needs of caregivers, practitioners can enhance support and improve caregivers’ overall well-being.