Citation

Mowll J. J. Soc. Work End Life Palliat. Care 2017; 13(2-3): 94-112.

Affiliation

School of Social Sciences, The University of New South Wales , Sydney , New South Wales , Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/15524256.2017.1331182

PMID

28613994

Abstract

Supporting family members to view the body of their relative after a traumatic death is a critical role for social workers in hospital and morgue settings; however, this role has had little attention in the literature. In-depth interviews with 48 bereaved family members explored their experiences of helpful and unhelpful aspects of support when viewing the body of their deceased relative. A central theme of "support as a relational interaction" was identified. Aspects of the connection and communication valued by participants within this relational interaction included: "permissions and possibilities," "information and preparation," "presenting with care," "time and timing," and "tuning to family." These results are considered with grief practice and theory, to suggest the need for social workers to actively engage with working in the interface between the deceased body and the grieving family. This includes advocating a private location for time with the body and using interpersonal skills to provide paced and dosed information for preparation to view that is consistent with the capacities and needs of the individual and family.

Language: en

Keywords

Bereavement; grief; social work; support; viewing