OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of grief and bereavement services in nursing homes. highlight importance as provided Medicare hospice benefit for end‐stage Alzheimer's Disease (AD) patient family residing long‐term care facilities. DESIGN: Telephone survey PARTICIPANTS: One hundred twenty‐one homes Lower Peninsula state Michigan. MEASUREMENTS: The facilities were asked questions about on‐site services, routinely offered by licensed agencies. RESULTS: Fifty‐five percent sent sympathy cards after patients death. Ninety‐nine surveyed did not provide materials to or primary caregiver on grieving process None a letter death informing them local, community support group meetings. Seventy‐six able offer referral counseling psychiatric professional when intervention was deemed appropriate. Fifty‐four usually went funeral home who died at their facility. Ninety‐eight neither visited, made phone calls, nor written communication (i.e., newsletter) members CONCLUSION: study demonstrated few families long‐ term Because is part career most caregivers, access should be encouraged with J Am Geriatr Soc 45:1104–1107, 1997.

A Survey of Grief and Bereavement in Nursing Homes: The Importance of Hospice Grief and Bereavement for the End-Stage Alzheimer's Disease Patient and Family