End of Life Care - Grief and Loss

The End Stage of Life is a normative process of development - a component of the Human Life Cycle. The Center on Aging and Disability Policy provides and supports: trainings, forums and the exploration of research projects addressing: End of Life Care, Grief and Loss - as it relates to “on-time and off-time deaths." Our focus is on the historical and cultural influences related to death and dying with an increasing awareness of family-centered practice - specifically as it relates to an understanding of the application of a family systems approach. Emphasis is on developmental aspects as related to the field and practice of psychology and  human services. In addition, the major models of casework and family treatment are areas of interest. The Center on Aging and Disability Policy emphasizes the importance of developing a: working knowledge of the death and dying practice literature; an understanding and appreciation of a systems approach as it relates to end of life care; an understanding of the developmental stages of grief, loss and bereavement; an understanding and appreciation of the variety of approaches associated with assessment, ethnicity and historical themes regarding death and dying; the impact of your own feelings and experiences as they relate to the interpretation of  “others” and an understanding of the need and process of planning and outcome evaluation of family intervention related to the end-stage of life.