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ABSTRACT
This study investigated Home Health Aides’ (HHAs) experiences in the immediate aftermath of client death. Semi-structured in-person interviews with 80 HHAs explored how notification of death and reassignment to a new client were handled. Only 42.5% of HHAs were notified of the death; 40% had to notify the agency; 17.5% were not notified at all and had a negative experience. Reassignment preferences varied, but HHAs had a better experience when their preferences were taken into consideration. Study findings suggest that more mindful approaches to transitions following client death would be valued by HHAs and could improve their work experience.
Disclosure statement
No competing financial interests exist.
Additional information
Funding
This study was supported by a grant from the National Institute on Aging (1 R03 AG034076) (Kathrin Boerner, Principal Investigator). Findings reported in this manuscript were shared in a poster presentation at the 21st IAGG World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics, in San Francisco, CA in July of 2017.