The Problems Recognized by Visiting Nurses When Local Communities Support the Bereaved Families of Users of Home-visit Nursing Stations

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To elucidate the problems recognized by visiting nurses when local communities support the bereaved families of users of home-visit nursing stations. Methods: A questionnaire survey was mailed to approximately 1,000 home-visit nursing stations throughout Japan. Results: We then analyzed 211 free descriptions and extracted 8 problems, including “Grief care is difficult to continue because it is a voluntary activity,” “It is insufficient in assessing bereaved families and I don’t know the social resources to introduce to bereaved families,” “I am reluctant to be involved with bereaved families,” “Because of the Act on the Protection of Personal Information, it is difficult to support bereaved families,” and “A formal & informal support for bereaved families has not been established.” Conclusion: No system has been established for grief care in Japan and grief care does not generate a profit; therefore, visiting nurses felt limited in their ability to be continuously involved in grief care, although they were concerned about the situations of bereaved families. This study indicated future tasks that home-visit nursing stations that perform grief care for the bereaved families of their users and home-visit nursing stations that request this care be provided by community general support centers should be evaluated in terms of medical remuneration points.