The business of death: A qualitative study of financial concerns of widowed older women

DiGiacomo, M; Lewis, J; Phillips, J; Nolan, M; Davidson, PM

The business of death: A qualitative study of financial concerns of widowed older women

DiGiacomo, M

Lewis, J

Phillips, J

Nolan, M Davidson, PM

Permalink

Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: BMC Women's Health, 2015, 15 (1)
Issue Date:: 2015-04-18

Open Access

Copyright Clearance Process

Recently Added
In Progress
Open Access

This item is open access.

Adobe PDF

Download Published VersionAdobe PDF (428.22 kB)

View on publisher's site

View statistics

Full metadata record

Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	DiGiacomo, M https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5484-8224	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Lewis, J https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8668-712X	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Phillips, J https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3691-8230	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Nolan, M	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Davidson, PM https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2050-1534	en_US
dc.date.available	2015-04-13	en_US
dc.date.issued	2015-04-18	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	BMC Women's Health, 2015, 15 (1)	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/35329
dc.description.abstract	© DiGiacomo et al.; licensee BioMed Central. Background: The feminisation of ageing and increasing number of widowed women in contemporary society has significant implications. Older women are at risk of poor health, social, and economic outcomes upon widowhood. The aim of the study was to describe women's experiences in the period soon after their husbands' death, including their financial issues and concerns, and the ways in which these experiences impacted on the transition to widowhood late in life. Methods: This was a longitudinal study using serial in-depth semi-structured interviews with 21 community-dwelling women over the age of 65 in Australia. Verbatim transcripts underwent Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. Results: Thematic analysis revealed: 1) administrative burden increases vulnerability; 2) gender roles impact on transitions; and 3) financial adjustments render housing insecurity and health risk. High administrative burden within the context of significant grief and mourning was a defining feature of the early bereavement period. Complicated protracted administrative processes, insensitive interactions, and reminders of loss contributed to distress, anxiety and feelings of demoralisation. Several women identified assumption of household financial management as the most difficult aspect of coping with their husband's death. Conclusions: Older women may have unmet needs for assistance with administrative, financial, and legal issues immediately following spousal death and potentially for years afterward. Lack of familiarity and absence of instrumental support with financial and legal issues signal the need for policy reform, resources to improve financial literacy in women throughout the life course, increased advocacy, and consideration of different support and service models.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	BMC Women's Health	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1186/s12905-015-0194-1	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Longitudinal Studies	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Adaptation, Psychological	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Social Adjustment	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Bereavement	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Widowhood	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Interview, Psychological	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Economics	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Aged	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Australia	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Female	en_US
dc.title	The business of death: A qualitative study of financial concerns of widowed older women	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	1	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	15	en_US
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services	en_US
utslib.for	1110 Nursing	en_US
utslib.for	1114 Paediatrics and Reproductive Medicine	en_US
dc.location.activity	England
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/IMPACCT
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Nursing
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.issue	1	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	15	en_US

Abstract:

© DiGiacomo et al.; licensee BioMed Central. Background: The feminisation of ageing and increasing number of widowed women in contemporary society has significant implications. Older women are at risk of poor health, social, and economic outcomes upon widowhood. The aim of the study was to describe women's experiences in the period soon after their husbands' death, including their financial issues and concerns, and the ways in which these experiences impacted on the transition to widowhood late in life. Methods: This was a longitudinal study using serial in-depth semi-structured interviews with 21 community-dwelling women over the age of 65 in Australia. Verbatim transcripts underwent Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. Results: Thematic analysis revealed: 1) administrative burden increases vulnerability; 2) gender roles impact on transitions; and 3) financial adjustments render housing insecurity and health risk. High administrative burden within the context of significant grief and mourning was a defining feature of the early bereavement period. Complicated protracted administrative processes, insensitive interactions, and reminders of loss contributed to distress, anxiety and feelings of demoralisation. Several women identified assumption of household financial management as the most difficult aspect of coping with their husband's death. Conclusions: Older women may have unmet needs for assistance with administrative, financial, and legal issues immediately following spousal death and potentially for years afterward. Lack of familiarity and absence of instrumental support with financial and legal issues signal the need for policy reform, resources to improve financial literacy in women throughout the life course, increased advocacy, and consideration of different support and service models.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/35329