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The Global Spread of Death Café: A Cultural Intervention Relevant to Policy?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 March 2020

Naomi Richards ,
Gitte H. Koksvik ,
Sheri Mila Gerson  and
David Clark
Naomi Richards
Affiliation:
School of Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Glasgow, E-mail: [email protected]
Gitte H. Koksvik
Affiliation:
School of Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Glasgow, E-mail: [email protected]
Sheri Mila Gerson
Affiliation:
School of Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Glasgow, E-mail: [email protected]
David Clark
Affiliation:
School of Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Glasgow, E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

New demographic and epidemiological trends mean people are dying at older ages and over long periods of time, from multiple, chronic illnesses. There is a perception that these growing and changing needs will require novel community responses. One starting point is having ‘conversations’ about dying and death, and in this the phenomenon of ‘Death Café’ merits attention. In the first study of its kind, we report on interviews with forty-nine Death Café organisers in thirty-four countries, exploring how this ‘cultural intervention’, first developed in the UK, has transferred elsewhere. Using thematic analysis, we identify competing tensions between: local translation of Death Café and a desire for international alignment alongside instrumental use of the Death Café form and its incidental effects. The passion and commitment of Death Café organisers is compelling but may not lead to the behavioural change required to support a new public face of dying.

Keywords

Ageingcommunicationcommunitydeath and dyingsocial movement
Type
Articles
Information
Social Policy and Society , Volume 19 , Issue 4 , October 2020 , pp. 553 - 572
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press 2020

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