Michael Schimmel, CEO of Sympathy Brands, Parent Company to Cemetery.com, eCondolence.com and shiva.com says Hospice, Funeral and Cemetery Professionals Need Support After Experiencing More Than 500,000 Deaths in a Year.
MIAMI, FL – MARCH 15, 2021 – As the number of COVID related cases and deaths decline, suggesting the pandemic is coming to an end, mental health experts worry about its long lasting impact on society. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is one of the primary concerns for front line responders and the general public. However, often forgotten in this conversation are last responders such as hospice, funeral and cemetery professionals that have managed more than 500,000 deaths from Covid-19 during the last year.
In a recently published article titled, Post Pandemic: A New Grief Sets In, Michael Schimmel, CEO of Sympathy Brands, parent company to Cemetery.com, eCondolence.com and shiva.com, companies that have played an integral role in helping funeral homes and cemeteries provide numerous services during the pandemic ranging from pre-planning, and virtual services including Viewnerals®, to aftercare support for grieving families, says it is time to “ACT” in order to support last responders.
“For last responders, ‘new grief’ from the pandemic was more than just late nights, never-ending weekends and crowded storage facilities,” says Schimmel. “It meant absorbing the weight of the increasing number of deaths due to the coronavirus. It meant finding new ways to serve families and learning and implementing new technologies. It meant carrying the load of loss home to their loved ones. Death care professionals encounter an abundance of emotional hurdles as well, and must do so with professionalism and empathy. That is a lot of stress.”
Prior to Covid-19, there were an estimated 7,700 deaths per day. With Covid-19, the death rate increased to more than 9,000 deaths daily with each one touching a funeral home or cemetery somewhere in the country.
Schimmel says that, “last responders are undeniably the silent superheroes, performing essential services and providing families with compassionate care during a time of loss and grief.However, as funeral professionals, they grieve along with each family they serve and there has been endless grief.”
In his article, Schimmel advises the industry to ACT: Acknowledge, Consider and Try a three-step process that confronts the mental health needs of last responders and provides guidance on how to heal.
About Sympathy Brands: eCondolence™ shiva.com™ and Cemetery.com™
As part of the extensive Sympathy Brands portfolio, eCondolence.com, shiva.com and Cemetery.com connect families and funeral homes through the stages of planning, service, and aftercare with its consumer brands, proprietary Viewneral® technology, and nationwide concierge services. The companies provide a modern approach to end-of-life matters. Sympathy Brands’ strategic partners include best-in-class funeral homes, cemeteries, insurance companies, non-profits, bakeries and caterers to make planning and fulfillment supportive, convenient and seamless. For more information, please visit eCondolence™ shiva.com™ and Cemetery.com™ and sympathybrands.com.
Media Contact: Amy Goldsmith
Amy@S2Brands.com