Humanistically Universalizing Grief (HUG): Advisory Guidelines for National Hospice Bereavement Programs Standards Within the United States

Hospice bereavement programs in the United States lack standardized guidelines, resulting in service disparities and underutilization. While many hospice bereavement programs focus on pathologizing grief, humanistic approaches remain underexplored. The purpose of this study was to assess the current structure and challenges of hospice bereavement programs and to gather coordinators' recommendations to inform the development of a foundational minimum standards for supporting healthy grieving. This quantitative study gathered data through online surveys from bereavement coordinators in California. By aligning these findings with standards from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization standards, the Humanistically Universalizing Grief (HUG) model was developed, which provides core principles and advisory guidelines for hospice bereavement care. The HUG model offers a structured yet adaptable framework to improve program consistency, accessibility, and equity, ensuring bereavement care is comprehensive, sustainable, and responsive to the diverse needs of grieving individuals.