Bereavement in the context of homelessness: A rapid review

Abstract

It is common for the bereaved who are experiencing homelessness to be unrecognized grievers, who are then not adequately supported in their bereavement. This rapid review gathered published information from 17 references on how bereavement is experienced within the context of homelessness (from 509 references imported for screening). Four themes identified for understanding the bereavement experience were bereavement as a risk factor for homelessness, anticipatory grief, increased frequency of death, and ways of processing grief. Current practices used for support were themed into memorials, advocacy, and trauma-informed care. Themes for gaps and barriers to support were bereavement being systematically overlooked and environmental features present. The summary of findings is intended to help inform future research, policy, legislation, and cultural responses to grief and bereavement with the hope it may reduce people’s grief from being disenfranchized.