The Impact of Late-Life Parental Death on Adult Sibling Relationships.

The article looks at the effects of parental death on the relationships of adult siblings. The authors consider how relationship quality may vary on the basis of the presence and perceived effectiveness of a dead parent's formal preparations for palliative care. Results indicate that parental death is associated with a decrease in sibling closeness. The parent's use of advance directives such as a living will or durable power of attorney for health care are discussed.