Exploring Funeral Directors’ Experience and Perceived Impact of Providing Funeral Services During Covid-19 Restrictions

The importance of ritual/ceremony following bereavement is well documented, however restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the freedom to bury loved ones according to beliefs/traditions. This study explores the experiences of staff providing funeral services during COVID-19 and considers the implications for supporting bereaved families. Fifty-eight staff (male, 72.4%; n = 42) from 17 counties in Ireland, completed a self-report survey assessing perceived impact of COVID-19, confidence providing services, and challenges and supports for practice during this time. Quantitative findings suggest moderate confidence in service provision and low perception of negative impact from COVID-19, while qualitative results highlight a contrast between a feeling of under-recognition at a policy level and a sense of being appreciated by the public. This study highlights the evolving role of the funeral sector in Ireland in supporting the bereaved, and the potential to capitalise on a genuine interest in contributing more to support beyond the funeral

2019-20 coronavirus outbreak · Archaeology · Ceremony · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Pandemic · Political science · Public relations · Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 · Sociology · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · History · Medicine · Migration, Health and Trauma · Nursing · Psychology · Virology

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