Supporting Bereaved Caregivers

Adaptation of the Reach Behavioral Intervention

Bibliographic Data

ID13629467
AuthorsJennifer Martindale‐Adams (0000-0002-3226-7717, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center, Memphis, TN, USA, corresponding author), Jeffrey Zuber (Memphis VA Medical Center), Jeffrey K Zuber (University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center, Memphis, TN, USA), Deanna Stark (University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center, Memphis, TN, USA), Linda O Nichols (0000-0002-7085-4883, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center, Memphis, TN, USA)
Year2025
Pages302228251377621-302228251377621
Publication date2025-09-12
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueOMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0030-2228 • E-ISSN: 1541-3764
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/00302228251377621
PMID40940031
OpenAlexW4414162513
LanguageEN
References cited27

The brief REACH VA intervention for bereaved caregivers, adapted from the REACH VA (Resources for Enhancing All Caregivers' Health) behavioral caregiver intervention, was piloted October 2023 to March 2025. REACH is structured and standardized to focus on information about grief and bereavement, support, and physical and emotional well-being through problem solving, cognitive reframing, and stress management, but targeted to each bereaved caregiver's specific needs through a Risk Assessment. An accompanying Notebook provides information on practical issues, understanding grief, grief activators, and moving from the caregiver role. In the pilot, 207 caregivers participated in four one-hour sessions with a trained and certified program coach. On average, caregivers reported significant improvements in depressive symptoms, anxiety, stress, and symptoms of anger (all p < .001). Benefits reported were emotional validation, the coach, and new skills. In February 2025, through the Department of Veterans Affairs Caregiver Support Program, each VA facility implemented the program

Adaptation (eye · Anger · Caregiver stress · Cognition · Complicated grief · Coping (psychology · Grief · Intervention (counseling · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · Migration, Health and Trauma · Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues

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