Chapter 1: Aftercare - Extending a Helping Hand All Year Round, 2nd edition 1 CE Hour
By: Thomas S. Carver Learning objectives After completing this course, the learner will be able to: Define Aftercare. List several types of Aftercare. Course overview This basic-level course will enable the funeral professional to provide a range of aftercare services to their clients. The aftercare program involves more than just sending the family a thank-you card. Aftercare offers a myriad of services: Helping the family complete forms where the funeral home takes no direct interest, for example, nonassigned insurance and/or military benefit forms, calling to check up on the family to see how they are doing, and even having events through the year Implicit bias in healthcare Implicit bias significantly affects how healthcare professionals perceive and make treatment decisions, ultimately resulting in disparities in health outcomes. These biases, often unconscious and unintentional, can shape behavior and produce differences in medical care along various lines, including race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, and socioeconomic status. Healthcare disparities stemming from implicit bias can manifest in several ways. For example, a healthcare provider might unconsciously give less attention to a patient or make assumptions about their medical needs based on race, gender, or age. The unconscious assumptions can lead to delayed or inadequate care, misdiagnoses, or inappropriate treatments, all of which can adversely impact health outcomes. Addressing
Demonstrate how Aftercare can help the funeral home’s business grow. Analyze ethical issues within Aftercare.
like a Christmas memorial program. These services help the family to continue to celebrate their loved one’s life and help the bereaved to move forward. Each funeral home offers a different set of aftercare services for its customers based on the needs of the community it serves; therefore, using the correct services creates an effective aftercare program. Even though aftercare does not directly affect the bottom line financially, it will increase business in the long run if done correctly. implicit bias in healthcare is crucial for achieving equity in medical treatment. Strategies to combat these biases involve education and awareness programs for healthcare professionals. These programs help individuals recognize and acknowledge their biases, fostering a more empathetic and unbiased approach to patient care. Additionally, implementing policies and procedures prioritizing equitable treatment for all patients can play a pivotal role in reducing healthcare disparities. Ultimately, confronting implicit bias in healthcare is essential to creating a more just and equitable healthcare system where everyone receives fair and equal treatment regardless of their background or characteristics.
INTRODUCTION
This basic-level course will enable the funeral professional to provide a range of aftercare services to their clients. The aftercare program involves more than just sending the family a thank-you card. Aftercare offers a myriad of services: Helping the family complete forms where the funeral home takes no direct interest, for example, nonassigned insurance and/or military benefit forms, calling to check up on the family to see how they are doing, and even having events through the year like a Christmas memorial program. These services help the family to continue to celebrate their loved one’s life and help the bereaved to move forward. Each funeral home offers a different set of aftercare services for its customers based on the needs of the community it serves; therefore, using the correct services creates an effective aftercare program. Even though aftercare does not directly affect the bottom line financially, it will increase business in the long run if done correctly.
The face of the funeral industry has been changing. One of the biggest changes is the life expectancy of people today. In the 1800s and 1900s, most funerals were for young people, either children or young adults cut down in the prime of life. The mourner often would lament over a life unlived or potential lost. Today the average life expectancy is over 65 years. Though there is mourning, the service is usually called a celebration of life. The person lived a full life and now their loved ones must learn to live without them. In the past, most funerals had a viewing, and the casketing rate was almost one 100%. Today, with cremations on the rise and viewings down, funeral homes are trying to find more ways to add value to the service. Repeat business is the lifeblood of any funeral home, and so each business needs to differentiate itself from competitors. The aftercare program is an additional opportunity for the funeral home and the funeral professional to show that they genuinely care for the family. Aftercare programs can also lead to repeat business.
WHAT IS AFTERCARE?
conflict of interest for the funeral home. However, funeral staff can use aftercare to help with the grieving process by offering online resources, posting videos about grieving on the funeral home’s website, and providing referrals to local grief workshops and support groups. Brochure displays on how to handle grief are very effective as well. Aftercare helps the griever continue in life without their loved one by offering support throughout the year via many different outlets. Some programs help the person with everyday challenges like money management, fixing a car, or grocery shopping. Many survivors do not consider these
According to the book Ethical Practice in Grief Counseling (2009), aftercare means “Attending to the social, emotional, and psychological aspects of grieving experienced by the bereaved that extend beyond the time frame of customary funeral rituals.” In the past, the funeral home’s focus was to take care of the deceased and then provide the family with a service to offer a chance to say goodbye; however, the grieving does not stop there. Aftercare aims to help survivors move forward after the death of their loved one. Aftercare is not grief counseling. Counseling must be done by a professional and would be a
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Book Code: FAR0624
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