Aftercare Services from Funeral Directors to Bereaved Men: Surveys of Both Providers and Recipients

Abstract

Little is known about the aftercare practices of funeral directors toward bereaved men or about bereaved men's use of aftercare services. We addressed these issues in two studies. In Study 1, 145 funeral directors were surveyed about their attitudes and aftercare services for bereaved men. They offered a range of services, but only a minority of men utilized them, and primarily only those services initiated by the funeral home (e.g., mailings, phone calls), rather than initiated by the men themselves (e.g., use of support groups, using reading material, counseling). Funeral directors who acknowledged men's emotional needs and adjustment problems were more active in providing services, and in turn, reached more men. In Study 2, we interviewed 69 men who had funeral services for their wives in the prior 16 months. Their use of aftercare services paralleled reports by funeral directors. On average, these men reported that such services were only moderately helpful. However, men who used services that they initiated (i.e., support group or reading material) had significantly better emotional status than men who did not use such services, whereas the use of funeral home-initiated services was unrelated to men's emotional state. We conclude that aftercare services that are actively sought by men are potentially helpful but underutilized. Funeral directors may be able to provide for bereaved men's aftercare needs, but funeral personnel should offer services or make referrals that are tailored to men's preferred style of coping with loss.