Grief is a life changing and universal experience, expressed through individual sets of responses and behaviours. Society and health workers’ interpretation and beliefs regarding grief and bereavement have changed throughout the decades. This is a continually evolving process. As we move into a new century, so too does grief move into a new era where a new postmodern paradigm is arising. We are thus deviating away from stage theories that are time limited, linear and predictable. Emphasis in this new wave of thought is placed upon grief as an oscillating and highly unique experience, one that encourages a continuation of a bond and lifetime relationship with the deceased. This current qualitative study explores the new phenomenon in relation to both the grief process and bereavement support programs, by extensively reviewing the literature and analysing data from a number of interviews with the bereaved. Furthermore the supports offered by society, with particular focus on a Melbourne Community Bereavement Follow Up Program, are reviewed. By observing and discussing expressions of grief it was found, although unique and varying, some patterns or common behaviors emerged. Supports and comforts that assisted the bereaved are explored. Issues, including inappropriate comments and problems with bureaucratic departments, are also developed and discussed. There is an emphasis placed upon the need of health care staff and the community in general to increase their understanding of the grief process and bereavement support, so as to enhance care and practice when working with people who have suffered loss.

Bakgrund: Palliativ vård omfattar inte bara vård av patienten utan innefattar även stöd till närstående, både under vårdtiden och efter dödens faktiska inträffande. Ett efterlevandesamtal är en möjlighet för distriktssköterskan att följa upp hur de närstående mår en tid efter dödsfallet och hur de upplevde vården under sjukdomstiden. Syfte: Att beskriva distriktssköterskors och sjuksköterskors erfarenheter av efterlevandesamtal inom kommunal hemsjukvård. Metod: Studien hade en kvalitativ deskriptiv design med en induktiv ansats. Åtta individuella semi-strukturerade intervjuer genomfördes via videomöte. Insamlat material analyserades genom en kvalitativ innehållsanalys med fokus på det manifesta innehållet. Resultat: I resultatet framkom att efterlevandesamtal erbjöds efter alla dödsfall. Arbetsuppgiften beskrevs vara värdefull och mångsidig samt något som distriktssköterskan fått lära sig på egen hand. Efterlevandesamtalet hade en avslutande funktion från både distriktssköterskans och de närståendes perspektiv. Efterlevandesamtalets syfte ansågs vara att identifiera de närstående som var i behov av stöd samt ta emot synpunkter ifrån de närstående och reda ut eventuella frågor. Synpunkterna ansågs viktiga att ta vara på för att kunna kvalitetsutveckla vården. Slutsats: Betydelsen av efterlevandesamtalet var utifrån distriktssköterskornas perspektiv viktig för både distriktssköterskorna och de närstående. Distriktssköterskornas inställning till att genomföra efterlevandesamtal varierade. Framförallt ansågs det vara en värdefull arbetsuppgift men beskrevs även kunna vara svår och krävande. Vår studie skulle kunna hjälpa distriktssköterskor som känner en oro inför efterlevandesamtalet att se på det ur ett annat perspektiv. / Background: Palliative care includes not only the care of the patient, but also support for family members, both during the period of care and after the actual occurrence of death. A bereavement follow-up is an opportunity for the community health nurse to follow up on how the family members feel some time after the death and how they experienced the care during the illness. Aim: To describe the community health nurses experiences of bereavement follow-up in home care services. Method: The study had a qualitative descriptive design with an inductive approach. Eight individual semi-structured interviews were conducted via video meeting. The collected material was analyzed through a qualitative content analysis with a focus on the manifested content. Findings: The results revealed that bereavement follow-up are offered after all deaths. The task was perceived to be valuable and versatile, as well as something that the community health nurse had to learn on their own. The bereavement follow-up had an ending function from both the community health nurses and the family members perspective. The purpose of the bereavement follow-up was to identify the family members in need of support and to receive comments from the family members and sort out any issues. The comments were considered important to take advantage of to improve the quality of the care. Conclusion: From the perspective of the community health nurses the bereavement follow-up was important for both community health nurses and family members. Among the community health nurses the attitude to have bereavement follow-up varied. Above all, it was considered a valuable task but could also be difficult and demanding. Our study could be helpful to those who are anxious about the bereavement follow-up, to look at it from a different perspective.