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Acute grief appears more severe after COVID-19 deaths than natural deaths. Prolonged grief disorder (PGD) also appears prevalent following COVID-19 deaths. Researchers hypothesize that specific loss characteristics and pandemic-related circumstances may precipitate more severe grief following COVID-19 deaths compared to (other) natural deaths. Systematic research on these hypotheses may help identify those most at risk for severe grief reactions, yet it is scant. To compare loss characteristics, loss circumstances, and grief levels among people bereaved due to COVID-19, natural, and unnatural causes. Adults bereaved through COVID-19 (n = 99), natural causes (n = 1006), and unnatural causes (n = 161) completed an online survey. We administered self-report measures of demographic variables (i.e., age, gender), loss characteristics (i.e., time since loss, relationship with the deceased, intensive care admission, expectedness of death), loss circumstances (i.e., saying goodbye appropriately, COVID-19 infection, quarantine, financial setbacks, social support satisfaction, altered funeral arrangements, funeral satisfaction), and prolonged grief symptoms. COVID-19 deaths (vs. other deaths) more often were parental deaths and less often child deaths. COVID-19 deaths (vs. natural deaths) were more often unexpected and characterized by an inability to say goodbye appropriately. People bereaved due to COVID-19 (vs. other deaths) were more often infected and quarantined. COVID-19 deaths (vs. other deaths) more often involved intensive care admission and altered funeral arrangements. COVID-19 deaths yielded higher grief levels than natural deaths (but not unnatural deaths). Expectedness of the death and the inability to say goodbye appropriately explained this effect. Bereavement due to COVID-19 is characterized by a unique set of loss characteristics and circumstances and elevated grief levels. Improving opportunities to say goodbye before and after death (e.g., by means of rituals) may provide an important means to prevent and reduce severe grief following COVID-19 deaths. COVID-19 deaths have unique loss characteristics and circumstances and elicit more severe grief than natural deaths. Death expectedness and the ability to say goodbye appropriately appear important in understanding, preventing and treating grief following COVID-19 deaths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research suggests healthcare professionals feel uncomfortable or inadequately prepared to provide care to people living with dementia. Importantly, research on the attitudes of physiotherapists toward people with dementia is limited. The objective was to assess personal, educational, and clinical experiences on physiotherapists' attitudes toward working with people with dementia. Methods: An online survey was completed by registered physiotherapists. Data were collected on their dementia knowledge, confidence, and attitudes. Structural equation modeling (SEM) evaluated the factors associated with attitudes of physiotherapists. Results: A total of 231 physiotherapists completed the survey. Participants' scores on knowledge of dementia were excellent. Interactions with people with dementia were positive (67.4%) and access to rehabilitation was important (70.4%). However, most respondents reported a lack of confidence and strategies to successfully deal with cognitive (42.5%) or behavioral (58.3%) symptoms. In the SEM, only education (p =.048) was significantly related to attitude. Specifically, more education was related to more positive attitudes. Conclusions: Scores on knowledge of dementia were high. Yet, most respondents reported reduced confidence from a lack of skills to manage behavioral or cognitive symptoms associated with dementia. More education related to working with people with dementia was significantly related to positive attitudes among physiotherapists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of dementia is increasing with more healthcare workers being required to care for people living with this progressive neurological disorder. The knowledge level and attitude of healthcare workers caring for those living with dementia need to be assessed and resources targeted effectively to ensure best quality care is provided. Healthcare workers for the purpose of this paper include anyone employed to care for those living with dementia. Aim: To investigate the attitudes of healthcare workers towards people living with dementia. Methods: A survey of 110 healthcare workers was undertaken between October 2016 and December 2017, using the Dementia Attitude Scale to measure attitudes towards people living with dementia. Demographic data were collected by a survey to explore whether a person's age; cultural background; qualification level; or experience level had an impact on their attitude towards people living with dementia. Results: The full survey was completed by n = 85 healthcare workers with the majority having strongly positive views about people living with dementia, with an average score of 88.31/100. However, a large number reported being afraid of people living with dementia (n = 76, 89.4%) and would avoid people with dementia who were agitated (n = 51, 61.4%). While 100% (n = 85) agreed or strongly agreed that it was possible to enjoy interacting with people living with dementia, they were more ambivalent with n = 26 (31.6%) strongly agreeing with the statement that working with people living with dementia is rewarding. A significant difference in attitude was found using one-way analysis of variance within groups due to age (p <.000) and cultural background (p <.035). Conclusions: Healthcare workers within this study had mainly positive attitudes towards people with dementia as demonstrated by the high attitude scores. However, this paper has shown that healthcare workers may require further education to improve attitude and care towards those living with dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resource Facilitation is a lesser-known service line within the field of brain injury rehabilitation and has been described as similar to case management, care coordination, and neuronavigation. The purpose of this project was to evaluate current Resource Facilitation programs and provide a comprehensive summary of program characteristics to work toward a common definition of Resource Facilitation services and inform future program development and evaluation frameworks. An online survey was sent to all known Resource Facilitation programs in the US (N = 70). Completed through Survey Monkey including information related to program history, structure, population served, and outcomes measurement. Descriptive statistical analyses were applied. Twenty-four of the 70 programs completed the survey, resulting in a 34% completion rate. This snapshot of the current definitions and activities demonstrated high variability across programs regarding structure, funding, eligibility, and data collection. Only 33% of programs reported having a program evaluation system. This project provided a comprehensive summary of Resource Facilitation program characteristics and associated outcome metrics. The findings may be used to begin the formulation of a common definition of Resource Facilitation services, a program evaluation framework, and aid in establishing a common data set across programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To understand personal, educational and clinical experiences and the attitudes of physiotherapy students towards people with dementia. Methods: Online survey questionnaire. Physiotherapy students in the last year of a two-year Masters of Physical Therapy (MPT) entry-to-practice degree program (n = 59) were surveyed. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Results: Fifty-five students participated (93%). The majority of students (n = 52/55, 77%) had at least one clinical placement working with people with dementia. Overall, 53% (n = 29/55) felt their academic training was sufficient to effectively work with people with dementia. Moreover, 82% (n = 45/55) reported their confidence was greatest working with people who could communicate well verbally. Conclusions: Disease-based knowledge was strong, yet just over half felt their academic training was sufficient to effectively work with people with dementia. The findings support the need for more training, particularly in communication strategies, to support students to effectively work with client with dementia upon graduation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]