Unexplored Costs of Bereavement Grief in Japan: Patterns of Increased Use of Medical, Pharmaceutical, and Financial Services

Abstract

Bereaved families may experience psychological and physical problems increasing their reliance on medical, pharmaceutical, and financial/legal services. Our Japan-wide survey (n = 1078) researched bereaved who showed increased reliance on medical, pharmaceutical, and financial/legal services. Increased use was most evident in the ‘50’s age bracket, and for unemployed widows; it corresponded less with low annual income than with high income declining significantly after bereavement. Increased users showed higher psychological and physical symptoms of grief, and reported their decline in physical health seriously influencing their work and lives, suggesting “presenteeism”—reduced productivity for those continuing to work. Increased users spent 2.7 times more for medical and pharmaceutical services than those reporting continual use, portending 4 to 10 times more Japanese government expense for this group, half of whom considered their own out-of-pocket expenses a financial burden. These findings warrant further research on cost-effectiveness of interventions to reduce declining health of the bereaved.

Utilizing the spirituality of funeral rituals for post-pandemic grief recovery

“…Becker et al ( 2021a , b ) conducted Japan's first major nationwide survey to determine the impact of funeral and memorial practices on psychological grief, physical health, and medical costs. Their preliminary findings were that deeper grief after bereavement correlated with more physical problems and more medical dependency in Japan.…”

“…Traditionally, funerals and rituals addressed and ameliorated some of that grief (see Hoy, 2013 , 2020 ), but pandemic restrictions have hampered funeral gatherings as well. Research suggests that funerals and related rituals contribute substantially to the psycho-spiritual as well as physical health of the recently bereaved (Becker et al, 2021a , b ) yet ironically, the psycho-spiritual value of funerals has not yet been widely studied nor applied to prevent or address psychiatric problems. This essay would propose that funerary rituals support the bereaved by facilitating (1) expression; (2) solace; (3) support; and (4) meaning-making, all central to the spiritual wellbeing of the bereaved.…”

Honoring Grief Journeys Following the Death of a Loved One

“…KEY WORDS: bereavement, grief, grief care, grief management, grief responses, nursing, prolonged grief disorder, spiritual care T hose grieving the loss of a loved one can feel isolated, unsupported, and lacking in energy to seek help ( Holland et al, 2021). Recent studies indicate bereaved individuals experience negative mental and/or physical health effects (Becker et al, 2021;Thimm et al, 2020;Young-Planning impactful care involves understanding individuals' needs in context of where they are within their grief journey.…”

“…Those grieving the loss of a loved one can feel isolated, unsupported, and lacking in energy to seek help (Holland et al, 2021). Recent studies indicate bereaved individuals experience negative mental and/or physical health effects (Becker et al, 2021; Thimm et al, 2020; Youngblut & Brooten, 2018). Nurses have numerous opportunities to interact with those on a grief journey.…”