Funeral Preparation - Things to Consider

Funeral Preparation - Things to Consider

Funeral preparation ahead of time relieves family members, grieving

spouses, children and friends from making important financial or burial decisions that may cause them additional stress and worry.

By taking an hour or two to make wishes known ahead of time, elderly individuals may save a great deal of time, stress, and expenses when it comes time to arrange funeral needs. Seniors, family members and friends should understand that the senior may not want a ceremony or any fuss following their death, but also need to remember that funerals are more for family and friends to gather together to reminiscence and offer emotional support than for the deceased.

Planning Funeral Services

As part of the funeral preparation decide ahead of time who will handle funeral services. A short list should contain information regarding the funeral home, its phone and address, the name of the funeral director, and any correspondence, arrangements, and area locations.Seniors and their caregivers, loved ones or friends may also determine who will be pallbearers, speakers, and what types of tributes or flowers may be preferred.

Making funeral arrangements ahead of time may also help determine the type of music to be played at the service, who can give requested readings or memorial speeches, right down to the type of clothing and jewelry worn by the deceased at the funeral.

Seniors or caregivers and family members should also decide when making a funeral preparation what type of casket is purchased, as well as whether or not the senior wants to be buried in a traditional in- ground service, cremated, or placed in a burial vault or crypt. If the senior is certain where he or she wants to be buried, such costs can be paid in advance.

Pre-planning funerals enable individuals to:

• Make their specific wishes regarding burial and funeral arrangements to family members and loved ones.
• Reduce the arrangements and decisions that surviving family members must make when they're grieving a loss.
• Pay for and control funeral costs in times of economic difficulty or inflation.
• Organize personal records, paperwork, documents, deeds and other items in one location for survivors or an executor to locate.
• Enable seniors or family members to pay for funeral and burial services and costs without having to take the money out of insurance payments.
• Make arrangements for funeral or burial needs that are ready to set into place in the event of an accident or terminal illness or condition that reduces cognitive abilities of the senior.

In any case, making funeral arrangements ahead of time will also give seniors and family members a general idea of how much a funeral can cost. Average funeral expenses often range approximately $6,000, depending on funeral home, services required and other arrangements made ahead of time.

While it's one thing to plan ahead, seniors should be advised to resist the urge to prepay for funeral or burial services with a specific provider, as there are times when such providers go out of business, change hands, or encounter financial difficulties that may make it difficult if not impossible for them to take care of funeral or burial needs when the time comes.

In addition, reputable funeral homes should not keep any prepaid monies or funds in their own account, but use trust companies or insurance to make sure consumers get their money back in the event they go out of business or move out of the area.

Stick To The Basics

When planning funeral arrangements ahead of time, stick to the basics.
Make a list of two or three funeral service providers in your area and contact each in order to get an idea of their services and costs.

See who you like best, and who will meet your specific needs and desires.

Determine the general cost of caskets, cremations, and burial services, and ask whether a not the funeral home provides for custodial care.As with looking for any service, take the time to shop around, gather information and compare prices before making a final decision regarding funeral arrangements.

Talking with Mom and Dad