Q: Do certain cemeteries and crematoriums have special requirements?
A: Some cemeteries and crematoriums may have policies that require certain goods and services be purchased. If the consumer decides not to purchase goods and services required by a cemetery or crematorium, he or she has the right to select another location that has no such policy.
Embalming Q: Is embalming always required?
A: Except in certain special cases, embalming is not required by law. Embalming may be
necessary, however, when selecting certain funeral arrangements, such as viewing or open-casket visitation. The customer does not have to pay for embalming if he or she did not approve it when selecting arrangements, such as a direct cremation or immediate burial. If the funeral home must charge to conduct an embalming, the customer’s designee will be notified of the reasons in writing.
Assistance Q: This is all very confusing to me. May I pick someone close to me to help with all of this? May this person also work with the funeral home to ensure that my wishes as written in the preneed contract are carried out?
A: You may designate in writing a person of your choice to work with the funeral home and preneed arranger either before or after your death to ensure
that your wishes are fulfilled. You must sign the statement and have it notarized. The designated person must agree to this in writing. Under the laws governing preneed contracts, the designated individual has the final authority at the time of your death.
For more information, see the following additional resources Federal Trade Commission CRC-240 Washington, D.C. 20580 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357) https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/industry/funerals AARP 601 E St. NW
National Funeral Directors Association 13625 Bishop’s Drive Brookfield, WI 53005
Toll- free: 800-228-6332 http://www. Nfda.org/
Washington, DC 20049 Phone: 1-800-424-3410 http://www.aarp.org/
Conclusion The advantage of advanced funeral planning makes sense for many individuals and goes beyond cost savings. For many families, advanced funeral planning provides an important opportunity to talk about sensitive issues and concerns that might otherwise have gone unspoken. It also allows the family to decide together which funeral options will be most meaningful to them. In many ways, advanced funeral planning allows families to lay the foundation for a faster process in the future. As death care professionals, sharing the knowledge and encouragement needed to make these end-of-life decisions is paramount to the success of the preneed industry. Advanced funeral planning is a broad subject and must be conveyed in terms that the consumer can understand; additionally, it must be presented in a way that will best benefit him or her.
Although advanced funeral plans serve a very important purpose, their exact benefits, limitations, and risk factors are not always well described in broad or common language by providers and/or agents. This oversight on the part of the funeral professional means that consumers are not always made aware of the advantages or the risks of prepaid funeral plans, or the specifications put in place by many states. Therefore, learning and sharing expertise in the area of advanced planning and/or knowing how to direct a consumer will not only benefit the insured but will also fortify the empathy and compassion that the death care industry was formed upon.
WORKS CITED https://qr2.mobi/funeral-plan2
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Book Code: FTX1625
EliteLearning.com/Funeral
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