All of us will experience bereavement at some time in our lives, and this becomes more likely as we get older. For people whose experiences of bereavement are particularly challenging, bereavement support services can be necessary to help them process their grief.
This report explores the experiences of older people who have been bereaved and their attitudes towards bereavement support.
It highlights the experiences that might make bereavement particularly challenging for people in later life, barriers to accessing extra support, and what support our interviewees found most helpful for moving through their grief journey.
Our research makes it clear that more needs to be done to ensure older people can access forms of bereavement support that work for them. We make recommendations for the government, NHS England and local health systems to ensure that those who are struggling after a bereavement get the support they need.
