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Children and Funerals

Stephen Pett — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 23:19:07 +0000

Children and Funerals – a perspective.

Children from 1 to 18 + react very differently to death and funerals – as do adults.One child we know was gently forced to see a dead relative and suffered badly from the experience. Another might find it comfortably. Perhaps it is important to let the child make the decision and not to be “led” by an adult? Who knows what is best – certainly not the author! Anyway, we thought these US resources might be of interest in opening up a discussion before any decisions are made.

Read Funerals and Children eBook

https://vimeo.com/251702307

Children and funerals – plan the discussion in advance.

Children probably simply prefer straightforward, honest information. They need to understand what has happened as much as it is possible for them too. When they are older, they may not remember the full details of the funeral but they will ideally remember that it was a meaningful, non-threatening experience and that they were involved and included in it.Actually seeing the dead body may be more than they can cope with, especially if they are not carefully prepared for the experience and not thrust unsuspecting into a room with the body of a person they loved. Without careful planning and explanation that can be a horrific experience, perhaps thrust upon them by a well-meaning but distraught parent who may not be thinking clearly.Useful links

Independent Funeral Directors.
Prepaid Funerals

Causes of Death in England and Wales….

Stephen Pett — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 09:23:39 +0000

Causes of Death Registered in England and Wales

Key Findings• There were 506,790 deaths registered in England and Wales in 2013, a rise of 1.5% compared with 2012.• Age-standardised mortality rates (ASMRs) decreased in 2013. There were 11,583 deaths permillion population for males and 8,526 deaths per million population for females. Since 2003,ASMRs have fallen by 22% for men and 19% for women.• Cancers (neoplasms) were the broad disease group (based on International Classification ofDiseases (ICD) chapters) for which the largest percentage of deaths were registered in 2013,accounting for 29% of all deaths.• The leading cause of death for males in 2013 was ischaemic heart diseases (15.4% of all male deaths).

For females, the leading cause was dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (12.2% of all female deaths).

The 10 leading causes of death have been ranked to provide a summary for both males and females.Key Mortality TrendsThere were 506,790 deaths registered in England and Wales in 2013, compared with 499,331 in2012, a rise of 1.5%. The total number of deaths in 2013 comprised 245,585 male and 261,205female deaths. This represents a rise of 2.2% for males and 0.8% for females, compared with 2012.This is the first time since 2008 that annual death registrations have been above half a million.Mortality rates take into account the size and age structure of the population, which impacts on the number of deaths. Mortality rates for both males and females continued their long-term downward trend, despite the small increase in the number of deaths in 2013.

Leading Causes of death for men.

1 Ischaemic heart diseases37,7972 Malignant neoplasm of trachea, bronchus and lung16,818.3 Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease15,2624 Chronic lower respiratory diseases15,021.5 Cerebrovascular diseases14,0586 Influenza and Pneumonia11,426.7 Malignant neoplasm of prostate9,726.8 Malignant neoplasm of colon, sigmoid, rectum and anus7,6699 Malignant neoplasms of lymphoid, haematopoietic and related tissue6,311.10 Diseases of liver4,661Leading causes of death for women.1 Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease31,8502 Ischaemic heart diseases26,0753 Cerebrovascular diseases20,706.4 Influenza and Pneumonia15,3615 Chronic lower respiratory diseases14,927.6 Malignant neoplasm of trachea, bronchus and lung13,619.7 Malignant neoplasms of female breast10,1448 Malignant neoplasm of colon, sigmoid.6,5699. Diseases of the urinary system5457.10. Heart failure and complications and ill-defined heart disease5012.More information. Prepaid funeral plans! Page on what to do on death

Dealing with finances when your partner dies

Stephen Pett — Tue, 27 Aug 2013 04:20:16 +0000

Dealing with finances and protecting your family’s future when your partner dies.

When your partner dies…

According to the Women’s National Commission, an estimated 500 women become widowed in the UK every day. But when losing your partner is devastating for any woman, for those who suddenly find themselves dealing with the family finances for the first time, it can also be very frightening. The consequences of poor legal planning can be severe for married couples, and disastrous for unmarried ones.“There are still a lot of women, particularly among the older generations, who have spent most of their lives without ever making any significant financial decisions,” says Ruth Dolan, a Chartered Financial Planner.As an accredited Later Life Adviser and member of SOLLA (Society of Later Life Advisers), it’s a situation Ruth has come across many times.“Often, as was traditionally the case, men took on the responsibility of handling all aspects of the family finances,” she says.“In other cases, the husbands have taken full responsibility of the finances because they genuinely believe they are doing the best thing for their wife. Unfortunately, if he dies, their wife may feel utterly lost. It’s a daunting prospect for them when they have never had to deal with banking, let alone manage investments and savings.”For those who have never even had to deal with day-to-day budgeting, the prospect of sorting out their loved one’s estate can make an already emotional and upsetting situation even more daunting, particularly if there is no will or the estate is complex.“If your husband has always managed the family finances, you may be left totally unaware of what your financial situation is and how to cope,” says Ruth. “You’re suddenly faced with paying the bills, sorting out pensions and investments, and dealing with tax matters – all at a time when you are struggling to cope with your loss.”But as hard as it is to focus on finances when you are bereaved, it’s crucial to take proper advice to make sure you can manage and safeguard your family’s future.“It’s important you know where you stand in relation to income, taxation, savings and investments and any life policies that are in place,” says Ruth.“In the event of your husband’s death, your financial situation can change considerably. Your requirements may suddenly be very different so it’s vital that these are reviewed to make sure they meet your future needs.”In the short term, you could be entitled to certain benefits to help you pay for funeral costs, as well as allowances, one-off payments and other benefits. These could include a Bereavement Payment (a lump sum), or a Bereavement Allowance (a regular payment paid for 52 weeks from the date of bereavement).“Again, you should seek advice as soon as possible about your entitlements, as some benefits need to be claimed within a certain time,” says Ruth.It’s also important to sort out your spouse’s tax and National Insurance as soon as possible, since there may be tax to pay or even a rebate due. If both you and your spouse were getting the basic state pension when they died, you may be able to use their National Insurance contributions to get extra basic pension. You may also be able to claim money from your spouse’s personal pension scheme or life insurance policy, or be entitled to a War Widow’s Pension.In the long term, however, losing a husband’s regular income can leave you struggling to make ends meet on a single income. “Before you start dipping into savings, take a fresh look at your investments and aim to preserve your capital for the future,” says Ruth. “You may find that by simple restructuring of your investments you can generate more income.”It’s also wise to review your will when your partner dies to consider whether your wishes remain the same. It could also be that further inheritance tax planning is required if you haven’t considered this before.You should also think about what help is available when it comes to making financial, health and welfare decisions if you become unwell or lose capacity. In these situations, a registered lasting power of attorney would be invaluable.“It’s difficult to face all these issues at such an emotional time, particularly when you’ve never had to deal with financial matters before. But a sound strategy will help reduce the financial burdens and allow you to focus on what’s really important – coming to terms with your loss and hopefully moving forward,” says RuthStephen Pett, of The Probate Department Ltd says “Sound advice from Ruth – if you aren’t local to her, we know many professional Independent Financial Advisers so we can no doubt introduce you to a local one. When your partner dies it is crucial to get sound advice, especially if your advance planning has been less than perfect. We thoroughly approve of sound legal and financial planning – and you might even wish to read my ebook on the subject!! www.LegalPlanning.com For our free guide to Probate click what to do when someone dies. Bereavement help