The Evolving Landscape: Funerals, Cemeteries, Memorialization, and Bereavement Support

Rumbold, Bruce; Lowe, Jennifer; Aoun, Samar

doi:10.1177/0030222820904877

Cited by 15 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 61 publications

(83 reference statements)

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…10 Memorialisation practices are more the domain of funeral, cemetery and crematorium service providers, but researchers have now begun exploring links between memorialisation and grief outcomes of the bereaved. 11,12 Changes to memorialisation practices had been evident long before COVID-19, 13 with the most recent Australian industry report noting that consumers' preferences were shifting towards higher levels of personalisation and secularisation of rituals and ceremonies. 14 There has also been a shift towards desiring higher levels of engagement by family and friends, often positioned as the community reclaiming death and dying.…”

Section: Memorialisation Practices Pre-covid-19mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Memorialisation during COVID-19: implications for the bereaved, service providers and policy makers

2020

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Background: The aim of this rapid perspective review is to capture key changes to memorialisation practices resulting from social distancing rules implemented due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Method: As published peer-reviewed research pertaining to memorialisation practices during the COVID-19 pandemic is lacking, this rapid review includes academic literature from the pre-COVID-19 period and international media reports during the pandemic. Findings: Changes to memorialisation practices were under way before COVID-19, as consumer preferences shifted towards secularisation and personalisation of ritual and ceremony. However, several key changes to memorialisation practices connected with body preparation, funerals, cremation, burials and rituals have taken place as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Discussion: Although boundaries between public and private memorialisation practices were already blurred, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated this process. Without access to public memorialisation, practices are increasingly private in nature. A number of implications are considered for the bereaved, service providers and policy makers. Conclusion: Forms of memorialisation and bereavement support emerging during the pandemic that blend the public and the private are likely to persist in a post-pandemic world.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Memorialisation Practices Pre-covid-19mentioning

confidence: 99%

Memorialisation during COVID-19: implications for the bereaved, service providers and policy makers

2020

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“…Such public affirmations of dying, death, and grief, are key to the compassionate communities approach. 43…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of bereavement support on wellbeing: a comparative study between Australia and Ireland

et al. 2020

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Background: There is a dearth of national and international data on the impact of social support on physical, mental, and financial outcomes following bereavement. Methods: We draw from two large, population-based studies of bereaved people in Australia and Ireland to compare bereaved people’s experience of support. The Australian study used a postal survey targeting clients of six funeral providers and the Irish study used telephone interviews with a random sample of the population. Results: Across both studies, the vast majority of bereaved people reported relying on informal supporters, particularly family and friends. While sources of professional help were the least used, they had the highest proportions of perceived unhelpfulness. A substantial proportion, 20% to 30% of bereaved people, reported worsening of their physical and mental health and about 30% did not feel their needs were met. Those who did not receive enough support reported the highest deterioration in wellbeing. Discussion: The compassionate communities approach, which harnesses the informal resources inherent in communities, needs to be strengthened by identifying a range of useful practice models that will address the support gaps. Ireland has taken the lead in developing a policy framework providing guidance on level of service provision, associated staff competencies, and training needs.

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“…Providing opportunities for remembrance, greater respect and listening to those bereaved. This requires media recognition of the dehumanising impacts of death statistics; the need to give voice to the stories of the bereaved and provide more supportive narratives; 22 , 23 national and local initiatives, which support private and public remembrance, such as dedicated spaces/memorials and national days of reflection; 26 , 27 and inclusive consultation with those recently bereaved (e.g. see UK Commission on Bereavement (bereavementcommission.org.uk) to ensure lessons are learned for future pandemics.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘It was brutal. It still is’: a qualitative analysis of the challenges of bereavement during the COVID-19 pandemic reported in two national surveys

et al. 2022

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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has been a devastating, mass bereavement event characterised by high levels of disruption to end-of-life, grieving and coping processes. Quantitative evidence is emerging on the effects of the pandemic on grief outcomes, but rich qualitative evidence on the lived experiences of people bereaved during these times is lacking. Methods: We analysed qualitative data from two independent UK-wide online surveys to describe the experiences of 881 people bereaved during the pandemic. We analysed the data in two phases, conducting an inductive thematic analysis and then applying Stroebe and Schut’s Dual Process Model (DPM) and concepts of loss-oriented and restoration-oriented coping (1999; 2010) as an analytic lens to further contextualise and interpret the data. Results: We identified six main themes: troubled deaths; mourning, memorialisation and death administration; mass bereavement, the media and the ongoing threat of the pandemic; grieving and coping; work and employment; and support from the health and social care system. Examples of loss-oriented stressors included being unable to visit and say goodbye at the end of life and restricted funeral and memorialisation practices. Associated reactions were feelings of guilt, anger, and problems accepting the death and beginning to grieve. Examples of restoration-oriented stressors and reactions were severely curtailed support-systems and social/recreational activities, which impacted people’s ability to cope. Conclusion: Study results demonstrate the exceptionally difficult sets of experiences associated with pandemic bereavement, and the utility of the DPM for conceptualising these additional challenges and their impacts on grieving. Our analysis builds and expands on previous use of the DPM in explicating the impact of the pandemic on bereavement. We make recommendations for statutory, private and third sector organisations for improving the experiences of people bereaved during and following this and future pandemics.

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The Evolving Landscape: Funerals, Cemeteries, Memorialization, and Bereavement Support

Cited by 15 publications

References 61 publications

Memorialisation during COVID-19: implications for the bereaved, service providers and policy makers

Memorialisation during COVID-19: implications for the bereaved, service providers and policy makers

The impact of bereavement support on wellbeing: a comparative study between Australia and Ireland

‘It was brutal. It still is’: a qualitative analysis of the challenges of bereavement during the COVID-19 pandemic reported in two national surveys

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