Nearly nine out of ten Canadians have experienced the loss of a loved one, yet half feel unprepared to manage the aftermath, according to a recent Ipsos survey conducted for Sun Life. To address this issue, Sun Life has partnered with Empathy to offer bereavement support that combines technology with human care.
Marie-Chantal Côté, Senior Vice-President at Sun Life Health, explained the motivation behind this initiative: "Managing the death of a loved one is complex, yet so many people do it alone because they don't know where to go for help. Our new partnership with Empathy is allowing us to offer support to people who are going through one of life's most difficult situations."
The survey highlights several challenges faced by Canadians during bereavement. Almost 40% struggle with managing personal affairs and belongings of the deceased. One in three finds navigating legal processes and administrative matters overwhelming. Financial difficulties also affect one in four individuals, while another quarter struggles to balance work responsibilities with grief.
Empathy offers comprehensive support through its platform, which is available via partnerships with employers and insurers. The service includes access to a dedicated care team member for confidential guidance, personalized plans for estate and account settlement, funeral planning assistance, and resources for dealing with grief.
Ron Gura, Co-founder & CEO of Empathy, stated: "Empathy is on a mission to help as many people as possible navigate life's most challenging moments, including the loss of a loved one. By combining the power of our comprehensive platform with human care, we've made significant progress towards our vision."
Sun Life's collaboration with Empathy makes this service available as part of their group life insurance claims process at no additional cost. Nearly 80% of Canadians expressed interest in having clear guidance following a loved one's passing.
The Ipsos survey was conducted from January 8-9, 2025 among 1,001 Canadian adults aged 18 and over. It carries an accuracy margin of +/- 2.4%, nineteen times out of twenty.
For further details about these findings or information on Empathy's bereavement support platform, interested parties are encouraged to reach out directly.