Background: Many Australian families are affected by a decision to access Residential Aged Care (RAC) or by the death of someone in RAC. Grief and loss are commonly experienced during these stages, yet limited resources are available for families.

Aim: To develop an evidence-based booklet to support the grief, loss and bereavement needs of families of those entering, living, or dying in RAC. 

Method: An evidence-based and user-informed approach was adopted. A systematic review of the evidence followed by interviews with family caregivers and aged care staff was undertaken to inform the booklet development. 

Results: Thirty-four papers were included in the systematic review. Results indicated that family caregivers experience grief and loss across the resident’s journey through entry and adjustment, across change and deterioration, and at the eventual death. Family caregivers’ grief was influenced by quality of care provided to the resident, quality of family communications, and level of family support offered. 

Twenty-eight RAC staff and 10 family caregivers were interviewed. In line with the systematic review findings, family members reported grief experiences as unique and present long before the resident’s death. Transition to RAC was an emotionally difficult time and emotional responses continued through to the resident’s death and beyond. Quality of care provided to the resident and support provided to families influenced family caregivers’ grief. Informed by these findings, a Bereavement Booklet was developed, and made available RAC services in print and digitally. Online content for the GriefLink website was also developed. Positive feedback from families and services was received.

Conclusion: Supporting families dealing with grief, loss, and bereavement by providing information on what is likely to happen over time and practical tips on different stages from entry into aged care through to the end of life is valuable.