Bereavement practices among California hospices: Results of a statewide survey

During 1999-2000, the California Hospice and Palliative Care Association (C HAP-CA) surveyed its 160 member hospices regarding bereavement support serv ices. Over 80% of hospices participated, providing information about progra m content, staff training, and costs incurred by participants. Results reve aled that a greater percentage of larger hospices and non-profit hospices o ffer support groups and workshops than do smaller hospices and for-profit h ospices. Volunteers account for almost one quarter of bereavement staff. Th e professional background of paid staff is varied, with social workers and clergy being most common overall but nurses more common in small hospices. Almost 90% of hospices provide all bereavement support at no charge to the bereaved. Services most likely to be associated with a fee include special support groups, children's programs, and professional counseling to individ uals and families.