An Examination of the Knowledge and Understanding of Health and Social Care Staff about the Grieving Process in Individuals with a Learning Disability

Abstract

The present questionnaire based study examined the beliefs about and confidence in supporting bereaved individuals with a learning disability in health ( n =35) and social care staff ( n = 71). The study found that the knowledge of both health and social care staff about the grieving process in individuals with a learning disability was good, with staff recognizing the emotional and behavioural impact this could have on clients. No significant results were found in relation to knowledge about the grieving process in respect of occupational group, gender, experience of working in learning disability services or experience of supporting a client with a learning disability who had been bereaved. Significant results were found in relation to the confidence of staff in both providing support to people with a learning disability who were bereaved and in teaching people with a learning disability about death. Males, social care staff, those who had had experience of supporting a bereaved client and those who had had more experience of working in learning disability services rated themselves as significantly more confident in supporting bereaved people with a learning disability. In addition the two latter groups also rated themselves as significantly more confident in teaching individuals with a learning disability about death. The implications of the study are discussed.

How Adults With an Intellectual Disability Experience Bereavement and Grief: A Qualitative Exploration

“…A second complicating factor can be the reluctance to communicate with PWID about death and grief (Murray, McKenzie, & Quigley, 2000;Oswin, 1991) and some individuals may never be informed of a death (Oswin, 1991). Carers have reported feeling they lack the skills required for tackling the subject of grief or, having had appropriate training, feeling a lack of confidence in their ability to put such training into practice (Dodd, McEvoy, et al, 2005;Dowling, Hubert, White, & Hollins, 2006;Murray et al, 2000;Watters, McKenzie, & Wright, GRIEVING AND PEOPLE WITH AN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY 5 2011).…”

“…Carers have reported feeling they lack the skills required for tackling the subject of grief or, having had appropriate training, feeling a lack of confidence in their ability to put such training into practice (Dodd, McEvoy, et al, 2005;Dowling, Hubert, White, & Hollins, 2006;Murray et al, 2000;Watters, McKenzie, & Wright, GRIEVING AND PEOPLE WITH AN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY 5 2011). They have also reported believing that if they broach the subject of grief the individual will require a level of support that exceeds that which they feel able to provide (MacHale, McEvoy, & Tierney, 2009).…”

An exploration of the support received by people with intellectual disabilities who have been bereaved

“…Such manifestations are not recognised as related to bereavement and may be minimised, misinterpreted, mislabelled or disregarded by front-line and family caregivers (Harper and Wadsworth, 1993). A number of studies have highlighted front-line staff's lack of knowledge, training and awareness in relation to the bereavement response of people with intellectual disabilities (Oswin, 1991;Murray et al, 2000;Arthur, 2003). Kitching (1987) also found that changes in behaviour and mood of people with intellectual disabilities following the death of a loved one are more likely to go unnoticed if the individual is moved to a new environment.…”

El proceso de duelo de personas con discapacidad intelectual

“…En este sentido, es preciso reseñar que muy pocos cuidadores reciben formación relacionada con el proceso de duelo en personas con DI (McEvoy et al, 2010), por lo que no suelen estar en disposición de proporcionar apoyos adecuados llegado ese momento (Murray et al, 2000;Read y Elliott, 2007), y de ahí esa falta de confianza ya que entienden que se trata de un área de especialización muy específica (MacHale et al, 2009).…”

“…Para muchos autores existe relación entre la adquisición del concepto de muerte biológica y el nivel de funcionamiento intelectual (McEvoy, MacHale y Tierney, 2012). También parece que la mayor parte de los profesionales que trabajan con personas con DI consideran que estas no entienden el concepto de muerte, aunque no consideran que ello dificulte el proceso de duelo (Dodd et al, 2005;Murray, McKenzie y Quigley, 2000). En otro estudio realizado por Rodríguez (2012), en el que participaron 75 personas con DI de entre 18 y 35 años, tan solo el 17,3% tenían bien adquirido el concepto de muerte biológica.…”