Nobody Should Die Alone. Loneliness and a Dignified Death During the COVID-19 Pandemic

• Published in: Omega: Journal of Death and Dying Vol. 88; no. 2; pp. 550 - 569
• Main Authors: Hernández-Fernández, Carlos, Meneses-Falcón, Carmen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01-12-2023; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Cadavers; COVID-19; Death rituals; Human dignity; Interviews; Loneliness; Pandemics; Qualitative research; COVID-19; loneliness; death; good death; dignified death
• ISSN: 0030-2228; 1541-3764
• DOI: 10.1177/00302228211048316

During the direst months of the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of people died alone. This study analyzes these deaths, which occurred without the presence of loved ones, and seeks to a) examine the significance for relatives, as well as professionals, of dying alone, b) determine if these solitary deaths can be considered dignified, or good deaths, and c) evaluate if the treatment of the cadavers and the funeral rites transpired with the desired dignity and sensitivity. The study was carried out in the autonomous community of Madrid using a qualitative, phenomenological, and interpretative approach through in-depth interviews of 49 informants, professionals and relatives. Interviews were conducted between July and November of 2020, followed by an interpretive, categorical, qualitative analysis. Among the key findings are that during the most critical months, deaths lacked the desired dignity, even though the involved professionals did their best to accompany and dignify the deaths.