Understanding and Responding to Grief-Related Needs: A Differentiated Community Approach

This project (GriefDiff) aims to develop and evaluate a differentiated, community-based
model of grief support for older adults in Portugal. The project addresses the lack of tailored responses to bereavement by proposing a tiered intervention system that allocates support according to individuals’ relational needs and risk profiles.

Using a mixed-methods design, the study will test the effectiveness of three levels of support: grief literacy and information resources, individual self-help interventions, and moderated peer support groups. Quantitative measures will assess outcomes such as prolonged grief symptoms and mental health, while qualitative methods will explore participants’ experiences with the interventions.
The project aims to demonstrate that differentiated, needs-based support is more effective than one-size-fits-all approaches. Expected outputs include a scalable community model for grief support, practical toolkits for organizations, and policy recommendations to improve grief care systems and strengthen community responses to bereavement.