21st-Century funeral home operations A client tracking system is one of the most powerful ways to impact a funeral home’s volume. The system tracks each case, all the way from the initial call to the funeral service arrangements, and from interment to the completion of necessary permits, death certificates, or any additional documents your firm utilizes. It formats a client file that unites all related details from the properties selected, all contracts and the related purchasing and payment information for each contract, and a section for gathering information on the next of kin, the informant, and other family members of the deceased. With system customization, program modules can be designed to integrate all members of the funeral service team, ensuring easy access to relevant data. The key benefit of this type of software is its single data entry feature. All sections of the contract can be completed effortlessly once all of the decedents’ vital statistics and funeral service information have been entered. Single data entry conserves time and energy while reducing the error rate caused by multiple entries. Whether a small business owner or a corporation, mortuary management program software can increase productivity Changing attitudes toward funerals Widely held beliefs regarding death, funerals, and burials are changing around the world. A deceased’s body is not considered a hazardous threat to public safety unless it has been diagnosed with a serious communicable disease. Materials used in preserving the body are increasingly the cause of environmental safety concerns. Industry professionals are aware that embalming fluid can be hazardous for personnel who work with it, as well as for the public. Concerns regarding the environmental risks associated with embalming chemicals led the European Union to consider a ban. In the United States, the Funeral Consumers Alliance (FCA) has expressed dismay that funeral home effluent is not regulated and that waste is often flushed into a sewer system or a septic tank. There were roughly 71 million baby boomers—that is, persons born between 1946 and 1964—alive five years ago Changing responsibilities as funeral professionals Funeral professionals will likely see their responsibilities grow, and this will require additional training and staff. The most successful companies will become jacks-of- all-trades who can use social networking and/or apps to the company’s advantage. Comprehensive services will encompass food services for catered events, travel and accommodations, off-site venues, services for pets, Changing ownership of funeral roles Historically, women have not only cared for the sick, but they have also played an intricate role in caring for the dead. In both ancient Greek and Christian cultures, it was the woman’s responsibility to care for the dead by washing, dressing, and anointing the bodies. Similarly, it was customary for Hebrew women to wash and dress the dead. This tradition carried forward as colonial women also prepared their dead. Presumably, these ancient customs have significantly influenced funeral practices in modern America. During the 19th and 20th centuries, undertaking the dead progressed from supplemental work performed by carpenters and cabinet-makers to purposeful work receiving distinction as an occupational specialty or trade. The funeral profession was credited as one of few trades where women were permitted to work, but not without limitations. Unless
and bring your business into the 21st century. As more and more firms embrace new technological advances, they not only enjoy the managerial benefits but also discover the therapeutic role technology provides in the healing process. Some funeral homes are providing families with uniquely designed, personalized online funeral registry books that honor the decedent’s life and provide an opportunity for families to celebrate their loved one’s unique story. The outpouring of love and support that families experience can be the catalyst required to facilitate the healing process. Similarly, blogging and online support groups have become a popular way to share the burdens of grief and bereavement. It is common practice for funeral home professionals to direct consumers to online resources for support. As present-day technology uses become standard practice, the challenge for funeral professionals will be how to remain competitive by providing new and innovative service options without losing sight of traditional ceremonies and rituals. (Fry, 2020). The majority still alive make end-of-life and/or funeral decisions that are better informed, more inquisitive, better funded, and less deferential to authority figures than those of their parents. Traditional open-casket funerals may not be the norm in these decisions, as customers are increasingly comfortable considering other options. In addition to the rise of cremation, consumer attitudes about funerals have changed significantly, shifting from traditional funerals toward options that are more environmentally friendly, cost effective, personalized, and/or natural. The Green Burial Council (GBC), an advocacy group for natural and green burial methods, notes a growing membership and currently has 341 provider members (GBC, n.d.). eco-friendly funeral options, grief counseling, and use of funeral-planning technology. Marketing will require services to be listed on the business website and the business to be available via social media and apps for smartphones and tablets. Community presentations will continue, but they will need to incorporate state-of-the-art multimedia presentations to be competitive. you were a woman working in a family-owned business, the chances of having the opportunity to sharpen your skills in the embalming or prep rooms were slim. Women have overcome barriers that historically blocked entry into this traditionally male-dominated profession and in recent years, women have outnumbered men nearly two to one in mortuary schools. According to NFDA (2021), “in 2017, nearly 65% of graduates from funeral director programs in the United States were female.” The funeral profession requires skills such as empathy, organization, and communication—qualities found across all genders. As the industry diversifies, there has been a shift from its recent male-dominated period toward more balanced representation, reflecting women’s historical involvement in death care. This diversity benefits families,
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