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Practice Tip Sheets for Careworkers Advance Care Planning Advanced Dementia Advanced Dementia Behavioural Changes After Death Choices Aged Care Access and Assessment Anxiety Cachexia Sarcopenia and Anorexia Case Conferences Complementary Therapies Constipation Continuity of Care Culturally Responsive Care Communication Distress at the End of Life Dysphagia Dyspnoea End of Life Care Pathways Eye Care Faecal Incontinence First Australians Communication Frailty Grief and Loss among Older People Families and Residents Grief and Loss among Staff Myths about Morphine Nutrition and Hydration Opioid Analgesics Oral Care Pain Management Palliative Care People with Intellectual Disability Communication People with Specific Needs Person Centred Care Psychosocial Assessment and Support Quality of Life Recognising Deterioration Respiratory Secretions Self Care Signs of Imminent Death Skin and Wound Care Spiritual Care Supporting Families Talking about Dying Talking within the Aged Care Team Next Steps for Careworkers
Tips for Careworkers:
Grief and Loss among Staff
What it is: Grief is a response to a loss. Bereavement is the time of grief experienced by people following the death of someone close to them.
Why it matters: Caring for others can be rewarding. But grief over the death of people you care for is not unusual. It may contribute to burnout and overwhelming stress.
Staff working in aged care look after many people who die. As a result, they may experience repeated grief. Sometimes it can lead to complicated or prolonged grief where grief is very intense and/or long lasting. Report to nursing/supervisory staff any feelings of grief that are very strong, last for more than six months or make it difficult for you to do your work appropriately.
What I need to know: Grief is a response to bereavement and loss. How people grieve varies. No-one can tell another how they should grieve.
There are bereavement services to help you deal with grief and loss.
Talking to your supervisor and colleagues about what you are experiencing can help. If you need more support, request their help to find it
Note
Ways of dealing with grief include:
- taking care of your own physical health
- acknowledging your grief
- talking with colleagues
- talking with pastoral care providers
- talking with bereavement counsellors
- talking with a GP.
Note
Careworkers in aged care can develop close bonds with older people and families. You may experience grief.
Do
Instead of ‘protecting yourself’ from future loss by keeping a distance from clients, learn ways to cope with grief and develop self-care. You can grieve and still care well.
Do
Visit the ELDAC self-care room for self-care ideas.
My reflections:
Who can I talk with if I experience grief?
How could I start a conversation with other staff experiencing grief?
See related palliAGED Practice Tip Sheets:
For references and the latest version of all the Tip Sheets visit
Practice Tip sheets for careworkers
CareSearch is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
Updated July 2022
Page updated 22 July 2026
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