When a Child Dies: Money Matters

Abstract

The financial implications of a death are rarely discussed--indeed, in the case of a child's death, almost never. This article describes an exploratory study conducted in the United Kingdom in response to the belief of staff in a children's hospice that for many bereaved parents, the nature and extent of their financial problems were obstructing the effectiveness of support and help available to deal with emotional aspects of grief and loss. Findings from depth interviews with bereaved parents and staff in health and care services, and a questionnaire sent to all U.K. children's hospices, throw light on the reasons for and the impact of financial problems. Findings provide a number of pointers to ways of improving support for parents whose child dies. At the same time, findings provide strong arguments for including money in debate about dealing with death in contemporary society.