Who uses bereavement services? An examination of service use by bereaved dementia caregivers.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine factors associated with the bereavement service utilization of bereaved dementia caregivers. Grounded in Andersen's behavioral model of health service use, this study examined predisposing, enabling, and need factors as potential predictors of bereavement service use.

Method: Data were drawn from the Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health Study.

The role of grief, anxiety, and depressive symptoms in the use of bereavement services.

This study examined the role of psychological distress in the use of bereavement services at six months post-loss by 250 bereaved spouses in the Changing Lives of Older Couples study. Approximately 52% (129) used services, commonly provided by physicians and clergy. Hierarchical logistic regression analyses indicated that Black race, higher educational level, elevated depressive symptoms, anxiety, and grief were related to greater service use.

Depressive symptoms, social network, and bereavement service utilization and preferences among spouses of former hospice patients.

Background: Bereavement services are an important part of comprehensive end-of-life care with potential to ameliorate physical, psychological, and spiritual distress. We studied bereaved spouses of hospice patients to examine bereavement service utilization, barriers, and preferences regarding content, structure, and delivery of potential bereavement services. We also examined the impact of depressive symptoms and social network.

Long-term effects of bereavement and caregiver intervention on dementia caregiver depressive symptoms.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the joint effects of bereavement and caregiver intervention on caregiver depressive symptoms.

Design And Methods: Alzheimer's caregivers from a randomized trial of an enhanced caregiver support intervention versus usual care who had experienced the death of their spouse (n = 254) were repeatedly assessed with the Geriatric Depression Scale prior to and following bereavement. Random effects regression growth curve analyses examined the effects of treatment group and bereavement while controlling for other variables.