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The Real Financial Impact of Bereavement

The Real Financial Impact of Bereavement

Bereavement is an experience that will affect most people in their lifetime – over 30,000 people die in Ireland each year. The adverse financial impacts of bereavement are intertwined with the emotional impact of bereavement.

Irish Hospice Foundation, supported by a grant from the Department of Social Protection, commissioned two studies to examine the economics of bereavement in Ireland. A summary report was produced as an overview of the findings from the two reports.

This summary report – The Real Financial Impact of Bereavement – shines a light on the true cost of bereavement on people’s lives, an area that has been overlooked in the past. The findings look at people’s preparedness (or lack of) for immediate funeral costs as well as the longer-term impacts on household income, employment circumstances and psychological wellbeing.

You can read more about the main findings from the report in this briefing document below.  

The Economic Impacts of Bereavement in Ireland – a Quantitative Study

This quantitative study surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1,000 adults in Ireland about the economic costs of bereavement. This report also incorporated a literature review on the financial, employment, health and societal impacts of bereavement and a scoping review of relevant quantitative datasets.

Read The Economic Impacts of Bereavement in Ireland – Europe Economics – November 2021

The Economic Impacts of Bereavement in Ireland – an Exploratory Qualitative Study

To complement the quantitative findings a qualitative study was undertaken over the latter half of 2021. Individual interviews and focus groups were completed to gather data on the experiences of participants, comprised of both bereaved individuals and also professionals who support people who have been bereaved and may be economically impacted by bereavement.

Read The Economic Impacts of Bereavement in Ireland – An Exploratory Qualitative Study – UCC – Feb 2022

Watch the Launch Webinar

View ‘The Real Financial Impact of Bereavement’ Report Quantitative Findings Powerpoint Presentation slides of Dr. Amanda Roberts, who works in Bereavement Development at IHF.

View ‘The Real Financial Impact of Bereavement’ Report Presentation slides of Dr. Caroline Dalton O’Connor, Director of BSc Undergraduate Nursing and Midwifery Education.

View IHF Advocacy Manager Avril Easton’s ‘The Real Financial Impact of Bereavement’ Report Key Recommendations Powerpoint Presentation slides

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