Bereavement, which is exceptionally difficult under ‘normal’ circumstances, has been made extremely difficult during the COVID-19 pandemic. This dramatic change to everyone’s daily lives has seen challenges, the likes of which the world’s population has never known, to how people can grieve the loss of a loved one.
David West, Director at West & Sons, said: “This pandemic has created a collective loss of the world we once knew. Pre-COVID-19, we would turn to our loved ones, family and friends to offer support when coping with an unexpected death.
“The inability to be in close contact with established support networks are resulting in a lack of closure for many people.”
Isolation
Grief can be an extremely isolating experience. Social distancing, shielding and quarantine are making this extremely lonely for many people who have lost a loved one. Our most basic human instinct to comfort others in their time of need has been restricted. Loss will often trigger emotions such as anxiety and fear as we recognise there are things out of our control.
We are urging people to stay connected via applications such as Zoom, Skype, WhatsApp, FaceTime etc. but to also take the time to reach out to those who have suffered loss to offer reassurance and support.
Closure
Very sadly, some families will not have had the opportunity to say goodbye to their loved ones before they died. You can find bereavement services from your local council website and the charity Cruse is helping bereaved families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. You can also contact the charity via their free helpline on 0808 808 1677.
Planning a funeral during the Coronavirus pandemic
While there are no current restrictions on the type of funeral you can choose, families are being asked to restrict attendance to a maximum of 30 people. For more guidance on planning a funeral, read our advice, here.
If you need support and advice, please call our team on 01920 443277.
