Common Fears and Information Needed:
*Fears about dying alone - compounded by visitor restrictions at hospitals, nursing homes and hospice facilities
*Fears about honoring wishes
*Fears about not saying goodbye
*Fears about talking about death
How Trauma and Emergencies Effect Grief:
*Memories in a separate part of your brain
*Write things down in big font
*Stages of grief – paying particular attention to denial (lack of visual confirmation) and anger
Additional Considerations and Preparation Suggestions:
*Wishes made by the deceased and any prepaid arrangements with funeral homes
*Health and safety of those grieving
*Applicable laws and the difference between Medical Examiners and Coroners
*Ages of those who mourn
*Involving children - or the inability to have alone time from children during self quarantines
*Start collecting art and poetry
*Get self care, in preparation
*Learn about history and other times this has happened
Options for Modified Funerals and Grieving:
*Video funerals
*Delaying funerals (only available in communities with adequate storage options)
*Creating a home altar
*Finding ways to remember with all of your senses
*Having a container for grief and a place to mourn
*Possible graveside rites with small numbers of people
Links to Additional Resources:
*Death Investigations: Learn the Difference Between Medical Examiners and Coroners (explicit language warning)