Community Resources

Local and national organizations offering bereavement support.

Final Details: A Checklist

An overview of financial and legal action steps to take when someone dies.

Final Details: Claiming Benefits

Survivor's information on claiming Social Security, Veterans and employer benefits.

Final Details: Necessary Papers

Documents to collect when someone dies.

Final Details: Steps to Take

Basic actions to take during the first few months after the death of your loved one.

Finances -- Looking Ahead

Many important financial decisions need to be made when someone dies.

Funeral Arrangements and Memorial Services

Information on funeral arrangements, pricing and other urgent details.

Getting Legal Help

Many important legal decisions need to be made when someone dies.

Grief

Grandparents can’t protect their grandchildren from events that cause pain and grief. But they can help their grandchild cope with loss.

Grief and Loss Publications

AARP offers a variety of publications that were developed especially for bereaved adults, their families, friends and others to help you cope with the death of a loved one.

Normal Reactions to Loss

Grief differs based on who we are, whom we have lost, and how much our day-to-day life is altered by the death.

On Being Alone: A Guide for the Newly Widowed

Specific information for surviving spouses on how to cope when a loved one has died.

Publications Order Form

Choose from a variety of AARP publications to help you cope with the death of a loved one.

Reactions to Sudden or Traumatic Loss

Grief is a normal, natural process following a loss. With a traumatic loss, the process is more complicated.

Seven Choices of Grief

Understanding the grief process and where you may be.

Urgent Details

Immediate financial and legal action steps to take when someone dies.

Ways Parents Can Cope

Specific information for surviving parents.

Ways to Remember

Ways to remember our departed loved ones.