The Hospice Experience: Possible Effects in Altering the Biochemistry of Bereavement

ABSTRACT

Can the hospice “experience” alter the physiological (and particularly, the immunological) and psychological changes that occur among the bereaved following the death of a loved one? Does the factor of “anticipatory” grief play a role in making for a more rapid resolution of grief? Because of the longer experience of the anticipated death, have the bereaved already “done the mourning” and thereby shortened the grief period so that the bereaved are already on the road to immunological recovery? New techniques and methods making the collection of objective data during this grieving period easier are reviewed. These techniques are not invasive and hence do not burden the bereaved.

All in all, the altered biochemistry of those left grieving must be returned to “normal” homeostasis. This will restore the immunological health of the bereaved. Because the primary objective of the modern hospice is not only to make the death of the terminally-ill patient more natural (i.e., “normal”), but also to aid the bereaved, hypotheses must be empirically tested about the potential impact of hospice upon the biochemistry of bereavement.

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Notes on contributors

Jerome F. Fredrick

Jerome F. Fredrick is a biochemist and is Director of Research for the Dodge Chemical Company Research Laboratories, 3425 Boston Post Road, Bronx, N.Y. 10469. He has written many articles on the alteration of the normal biochemistry of the body by the grief experience. Please direct reprint requests to him.

Nomi J. Fredrick

Nomi J. Fredrick is a medical student at New York University School of Medicine, New York City. She has worked at the Anderson Hospital (Houston, Texas) with terminally-ill children.