PPP - Death Rituals (Lecture 08)

All about death rituals

What is culture? (No exact definition)

Usually customs, traditions and beliefs of a particular group

What key questions does a culture’s approach to death link to?

• Is there a soul or not?

• What makes life meaningful?

  And more

What is ‘medicalised health’?

A critique of medical interventions in that they interrupt natural death and traditional approaches to health.

What is the main aim of palliative care?

To improve quality of life rather than prolonging life if it’s of a lower quality

What concept is palliative care built upon?

Built upon acceptance and openness of being at the end of life, and on respecting the autonomy of the dying person.

What are the inequalities in palliative care?

They occur in black and other ethnic minority communities, who have less access to palliative care.

What model should you use for ensuring cultural competence?

The ASKED Model:

• Awareness of person’s own background

• Skill of integrating knowledge to practice

• Knowledge of other cultural groups

• Encounters with different cultures, using these encounters as learning experiences

• Desire to learn and engage with different cultures

What are the roles of a funeral?

• Allows the living to say goodbye

• Allows the living to show respect for the deceased

• Allows the relatives of the deceased to meet with other loved ones and helps with acceptance of death

When do large scale funerals take place?

Takes place for:

• Royal families

• State funerals

• Funerals for victims of violence

• Certain famous figures

How do funerals differ between religions and cultures?

• How is the body buried?

• When must the body be buried?

• Who is involved?

• What clothing is worn?

• What happens in the funeral?

What are the extra issues for funerals for people who have immigrated from a different country?

• Where is the body buried? (UK or back home)

• Who will look after the grave?

• Are the cultural rituals allowed in the UK?

• Is a dedicated burial location required? e.g. muslim section of graveyard

What are death rituals?

These are symbolic actions performed at or after death, common within a society or group.