A Bereavement Support Program for Survivors of Cancer Deaths: A Description and Evaluation

Abstract

The Riverdale Hospital, Toronto, has developed a comprehensive and well-documented bereavement support program for survivors of cancer deaths. This study describes the program and its execution and presents a detailed program evaluation. Bereaved survivors who had participated in the program for one year were asked by way of a mailed questionnaire to evaluate various aspects of the program and the facilitation of their grief by the volunteers. The results showed the bereavement support program was beneficial to the survivors and very much appreciated. The findings are discussed and recommendations made for expansion and improvement of the program.