How to provide support for aged care staff in times of grief
Aged care can be a highly rewarding career, allowing you to make a positive difference in the lives of others. However, you will often be working with people who are approaching the end of their lives. Around 50% of those aged over 85 die in an aged care home. Aged care workers are present with residents in some of their most vulnerable moments, forming deep and lasting emotional connections. This makes saying goodbye especially difficult.
So, what impact does this have on staff, and how can it be addressed?
The impact of resident death on aged care staff
For many workers, aged care is more than just about delivering meals or showering residents. They form a deep emotional bond with the residents in their care. In some cases, workers will be holding resident’s hands as they die, leaving a lasting emotional connection.
The issue can be compounded when a resident dies in hospital. Staff who have been caring for them for sometimes years feel they didn’t get the opportunity to say goodbye.
Over time, aged care workers will be exposed to multiple deaths, sometimes in a short period, which can lead to cumulative grief. This repeated exposure can affect staff wellbeing, increase the risk of burnout, and even contribute to staff leaving the profession.
Addressing grief among aged care staff
Acknowledging the reality of death
As a society, we often avoid talking about death. However, it’s important to have conversations about death and the way it impacts people in the wider community. Failure to recognise death as part of life can increase the emotional burden aged care staff carry. It’s essential that aged care staff don’t let the fear of grief stop them forming close relationships with residents.
It’s not only staff who experience loss — residents themselves may also struggle with bereavement. Providing grief support for seniors can ease this burden and create a more compassionate care environment for everyone involved
Providing appropriate support
Aged care organisations must take note of the grief staff experience when residents die. Aged care staff who are grieving the loss of residents should feel comfortable discussing this with their colleagues and supervisors. Support should be offered to those who have worked with recently deceased residents. Talking to a GP, counsellor or pastoral care worker may also help staff to process their grief. Creating space for staff to debrief after a death can make a big difference, as can small gestures such as holding a moment of remembrance or allowing staff to attend a funeral if they wish.
Acknowledge the impact of aged care workers
In their later years, many residents are highly dependent on the support and compassion of aged care workers. Families of recently deceased residents should also take the time to acknowledge the impact aged care staff have had on their loved ones’ lives. Aged care workers report that it is highly meaningful to receive positive feedback from the families of those they have cared for. These moments of gratitude can remind staff that their work is valued and help balance the emotional challenges of the role.
Moving forward
By recognising the emotional impact of resident deaths and providing the right support, aged care organisations can help staff build resilience and continue delivering compassionate care. At the same time, workers who understand these challenges and develop strategies to manage grief are better equipped to sustain long, fulfilling careers in the sector.
If you’re considering a new career in aged care, Aged Care Resumes can support you on the journey. We offer tailored resume support and expert cover letter writing tailored to the aged care sector, helping you present your skills and experience with confidence.
Article References
Palliaged (n.d) ‘Tips for Nurses: Grief and Loss: Staff’, Palliaged, accessed 21 August 2025.
Tieman, J & Vandersman, P (19 August 2025) ‘‘I went out and I had a cry’: what aged-care staff say about their grief when residents die’, The Conversation, accessed 21 August 2025.