An assessment of informal and formal bereavement support: Findings from interviews of surviving spouses

Bereaved people require varying levels of support, and may receive it informally from family and friends or formally from the grief care sector. In depth interviews with 38 people age 46-64 who suffered spousal loss during the previous one to three years identified social support as an important resource and support groups in particular as safe havens for emotional and practical help. Informal support assisted the surviving spouse through the death and its immediate aftermath, but as time progressed, support from close family and friends did not enable the survivor to re-examine their spousal relationship, uncouple from their deceased spouse and reconstruct their self identity. Formal support groups addressed persistent feelings of loneliness and fear, but focused solely on a process of emotional grief work. Formal groups failed to deal with important and necessary practical matters, such as home maintenance, everyday and long term financial matters and dating concerns. These findings support the work of Utz and offer insight and guidance for medical and social service personnel who provide end of life and bereavement care. It is recommended that formal support groups adopt a more holistic and practical based approach that includes addressing both emotional and readjustment stress by restructuring support group sessions to include topics of interest to the members.