Dealing With the Death of a Loved One

Experiencing death

Your To Do List

In this stage we recommend:

• Contact your Employee and Family Assistance Program to arrange for grief counselling
• Investigate your employer’s bereavement leave policies
• Review your beneficiary designations for your employee benefit program; make changes if necessary
• Contact a legal advisor to learn about legislated compassionate care and bereavement leaves
• Notify your employee benefit program administrator regarding the death of a dependent
• Update your dependent information for your employee benefit program, if necessary
• Review your beneficiary designations for your retirement and/or savings programs; make changes if necessary
• Contact a legal advisor to get assistance with wills and estate planning

Everyone experiences grief differently. Resources are available to help you understand the grieving process and make coping easier.

Helpful resources when experiencing death

• Life Loss: Coping With the Sudden Death of a Loved One
• Understanding and Coping With a Loss
• Saying Goodbye: Helpful Advice for Those Dealing With Loss
• When a Loved One Dies
• Taking Care of Yourself After a Loss
• Rethinking Family Dynamics in the Aftermath of Loss
• Planning for the Unthinkable
• Gay and Lesbian Issues: Grieving the Loss of a Partner
• Managing Grief: Understanding Emotions Around Trying Situations

When the loss is a child

Your To Do List

In this stage we recommend:

• Contact your Employee and Family Assistance Program to arrange for grief counselling
• Investigate your employer’s bereavement leave policies
• Notify your employee benefit program administrator regarding the death of a dependent
• Update your dependent information for your employee benefit program, if necessary

There are no words that can adequately express the grief when you lose a child. Talking with a friend or counsellor can help you through this very difficult time.

Helpful resources for when the loss is a child

• Understanding Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
• When Your Child Dies

Helping others through loss

Your To Do List

In this stage we recommend:

• Consider consulting a nutritionist to help stay healthy while supporting others
• Consider consulting your Employee and Family Assistance Program for help with a grieving child or adolescent
• Supporting others may add stress to your life; consider signing up for the Online Stress Management Program

Managing your own grief and supporting someone else who is grieving is difficult. These resources can help provide support to you and your loved ones during this time.

Helpful resources when helping others through loss

• Supporting Someone Through a Loss
• Helping Children to Understand Death at Any Age
• Talking to the Recently Bereaved

Considerations if you were to die

Your To Do List

In this stage we recommend:

• Review your family’s life insurance needs and make sure you have enough coverage
• Review your employee benefit program to understand your family’s coverage in the event of your death
• Make sure you have designated beneficiaries under your employee benefit program
• Review your retirement and/or savings programs to understand what benefits are paid in the event of your death
• Contact a legal advisor to get assistance with wills and estate planning

It’s never an easy subject to think about or discuss, but making preparations for your eventual death means your loved ones will not have that stress while grieving. Take time to consider and manage your finances with these resources.

Helpful resources for considerations if you were to die

• Estate Planning
• Will and Estate Planning
• Hiring a Lawyer

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