HOW TO DEAL

EMOTIONALLY
Losing a spouse can be
heart-wrenching. Everyone
handles this loss and life
transition differently, and
knowing how others in your
shoes have coped may help
you lessen the pain.

You may have recently
lost a spouse, or you may be
thinking about what the future
may bring. Regardless, it is
helpful to know about the
natural human process of
grieving. Some individuals
rely on established traditions
andc close family to ease the
mourning. Others might
seperate themselves and nd
being alone makes them
happier. Making slow
changes is sometimes the
best for these types of
people, allowing them to
progressively get used to life
without their partner.
Widowhood is dened as the status of an
indivudal who was legally married to someone who
subsequently died. YOU CAN pick up the pieces of your
life and begin again by yourself.
Physical Responses:
Some might feel short of
breath, numb, disoriented,
fatigue, or have an over-
reactive state of mind.
Talk to Someone: Your
response is a normal
reaction to an inescapable life
change. Take advantage of
community organizations that
offer programs for widows,
dont be afraid to ask for help,
and consult a medical expert if
you nd your regular daily
activities are being negatively
effected.
Attend to Practical Matters:
Youll have to deal with the
execution of a will, funeral
arrangements, and other
details. Notify family members,
the bank, insurance company,
your lawyer, and all creditors.
Be aware of your benets.
While youre probably feeling
a huge sense of overwelming
emotions, this is unavoidable.
ITS NOT OVER
Overcoming a loss like
this is a very life-changing,
personal issue. Yet, having
a clear understanding of
the different responses
helps you to recognize
that you are not in this
alone. Involve yourself
with others in the
community, get
appropriate medical
attention if needed, and
stay involved with your
family. Keep busy and
make time for yourself.
This can all make the
difference! You can
decide whether you want
to live a life of extended
grief or if you want to be
happy again someday.
Resources: The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), Mental Health America,
& http://www.havenofnova.org/articles/widow_widowers_grief/widowhood.pdf

In the aftermath of losing your spouse, the last thing you may wish to
think about is money, but you will have little choice. For a woman to
regain nancial independence, developing a plan and taking control
is key. These ve steps can help you:
Get your paperwork in order- obtain copies of
certicates, accounts, transfer ownerships, dont get behind on bills.
Contact employers- check on unpaid bonuses, contact
spouses boss, value of any benets/insurances, nd out if spouse was
entitled to any retirement benets, etc.
Assess your nances- make sure you have enough money
to meet all expenses including transportation, food, medical, etc. May
need to reduce spendings, understand all assets and debts, and
gure out your net worth.
Sit on your money- you may be besieged by request for
money, say no! Dont invest for at least 6 months-1 year, adjust to the
new pattern of income and expenses rst.
Deal with taxes- either you, spouses estate, or accountant
need to le nal income tax return, le a joint return for the year in
which spouse passed, in years following you can qualify as a widow.
How to Deal Economically
No one wants to contemplate the death of a spouse. Yet, odds are that
most married women will survive their husbamds as more than 11
million of the estimated 13 million widowed Americans are women.
Being prepared now enables you to face these odds with
condence in the future.
January 2012
The KEY to Widowhood..
Learn to see widowhood not as the end of your life
but as a time to achieve personal goals that you have
previously neglected.
Encyclopedia of Aging | 2002 | Holden, Karen C. A.; Kim, Meeryoung |Widowhood: Economic Issues
Medicare Gaps and Widow Poverty, Kathleen McGarry and Robert F. Schoeni, Social Security Bulletin,
Vol. 66, No. 1, 2005.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 American Community Survey