A new study reports that hospice may actually help ease depression after loss of spouse. While survivors are just as likely to be depressed after the death of their life partner, hospice care seems to provide a modest benefit when it comes to the survivors’ ability to cope with depression.
Lead author Katherine Ornstein said, “If a spouse dies, you’re more likely to be depressed. But we found that the group in hospice is improving afterward. Your likelihood of having reduced depression going forward is increased because of hospice.”
The researchers decided to pursue the study in order to fully understand how hospice might help families deal with the loss of their loved ones. According to Ornstein, such study was also the first to examine the possible benefits of hospice care.
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