More than two-thirds of respondents to a national survey by the Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF) said they lost a loved one during the pandemic, while 43 per cent suffered multiple bereavements over the two years.
The national survey, completed by more than 2,200 people across all demographics, asked about experiences and views on death and bereavement during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Covid-19 restrictions meant 30 per cent of those bereaved were not able to attend the funeral of the person who had died, with 82 per cent stating they had family and friends excluded from funerals.
"What our findings have confirmed is that the depth and breadth of grief and suffering among so many of those bereaved during the pandemic is both ongoing and profound," said Helen Coughlan, lead researcher on the project.
‘Painful and traumatic’
“The need to recognise, acknowledge and respond to the enduring impact of the painful and traumatic end-of-life experiences for so many people and their families cannot be overstated,” she said.
Ms Coughlan said the IHF had been “deeply moved by the stories of loss and grief so many people have shared with us through the survey”.
This month marks the second anniversary of Covid-19 in Ireland.
"Life before the pandemic seems so long ago and the results of our survey are very timely in highlighting the deep impact it has had on our lives. Few experiences have been changed more profoundly since March 2020 than how we deal with bereavement," said Orla Keegan, IHF head of bereavement and education.
End-of-life care
“Our research revealed that Covid-19 has also prompted many of us to consider our own wishes for our end-of-life care as well as how we can provide more support to our bereaved family, friends and colleagues,” she said.
Some 68 per cent of respondents reported that the pandemic changed their attitude towards dying, death and bereavement.
Sixty-four per cent said their experiences of death were negatively impacted during this time, and 47 per cent said they had given more thought to their own end-of-life wishes.
A total of 67 per cent of respondents said they have a greater awareness of how the death of a loved one can impact on those left behind, and 85 per cent of those bereaved reported that on the day of the funeral their community honoured the person who had died.