Supporting family members with severe grief reaction during the COVID-19 pandemic

Family members grieving the loss of a loved one may experience severe grief and require bereavement support. It is thought COVID-19 pandemic policies such as hospital visitation restrictions impacted the grief experience of family members. Our study aims to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on grief experiences and understand the supports available to and used by grieving family members. To do this, we are doing a medical chart review of patients who died in hospital just before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as grief questionnaires and interviews with family members of these patients who died. Results of this project will help support family members through their grief and bereavement in both pandemic and non-pandemic times.