Funeral Planning

What Is Deathcare: Definition, Types, and Resources

The period a loved one is dying is already hard enough. But amidst the whirlwind of emotions, you wouldn’t know the first thing about end-of-life care.

What is deathcare?
How does it work?
Where can you access reliable resources?

Deathcare is an all-encompassing term that covers various aspects of death and dying. From funeral planning to grief support, deathcare alleviates emotional burden by providing much-needed resources and guidance to those approaching the end of life or their caregivers.

In this post, we’ll unpack how deathcare can smoothen the transition for both you and your loved ones, guiding you through a process that, while inevitable, can be dignified and meaningful on practical and spiritual levels.

What Is Deathcare

Deathcare addresses all aspects of care and assistance related to before and after death. It’s a broad umbrella that encompasses everything surrounding:

Planning of funeral services
Cremations and burials
Grief counseling
Legal matters related to the deceased’s estate

Legal requirements shape after-deathcare plans to various degrees. Every jurisdiction has its own set of laws and regulations relating to death-related matters like body transportation, embalming, cremation, and burial.

Another aspect to consider is the cost. Funeral services range from moderately priced to extremely expensive, depending on service type, location, and the funeral home’s pricing policy.And with the average cost of funerals at $6.971, you’ll need to explore different options and choose something that fits your budget and preferences

Lastly, in today’s era of growing environmental consciousness, deathcare also includes looking at eco-friendly alternatives like green burials and water cremations.

But let’s take a closer look at the various aspects of deathcare.

Deathcare Services In the Modern Era

From digital memorials and live-streamed funerals to eco-friendly coffins and biodegradable urns, funeral innovations are disrupting the industry, making deathcare more accessible, personalized, and sustainable

There’s been a noticeable surge in the popularity of cremation, owing to its cost-effectiveness and smaller environmental impact.
Green burials are also gaining traction, reflecting increased environmental consciousness and simpler ceremonies.
With 48% of the population choosing personalized funeral services, they’re becoming a norm rather than an exception.

In response to these changes, the deathcare industry has embraced innovation like never before. Advanced funeral planning, for instance, allows us to plan funerals or memorials in advance. So does our comprehensive end-of-life checklist.

These changes show how the deathcare industry in the modern era has undergone significant transformations. The shift in consumer preferences and the advent of new technologies — see the surge of virtual funerals for example — changes the industry dynamics.

Overview of the Deathcare Industry and Service Providers

The deathcare industry offers crucial end-of-life planning and care services during one of the most challenging times in human life. It covers a lot of different aspects, each dedicated to providing a respectful and dignified farewell:

Funeral arrangements
Body preparation
Cremation or burial services
Commemorating and remembering the deceased
Grief support

Here are a few of the common services professionals can render in times of need.

Mortuaries

Mortuary services handle a wide array of tasks, easing the logistical burdens that come with losing a loved one.

Preparing the body for its final rest: From embalming to cremation, this task is carried out by skilled professionals who respect the deceased and ensure they are prepared peacefully for their final farewell.
Transportation: This involves moving the deceased from the location of death to the mortuary and, subsequently, to the burial or cremation site. Specialized vehicles and trained staff are utilized to facilitate a respectful and smooth transition.
Body storage: In a controlled environment, bodies must be temporarily stored in specially equipped facilities. This gives families the necessary time to arrange funeral and memorial services, as well as address legal matters.

Funeral Homes

Funeral home services have evolved over the years to cater to the practical and emotional needs of the bereaved. These days they’re more than just a place to hold a funeral ceremony.

Their services include:

Embalming
Casket selection
Obituary writing
Floral arrangements
Burial or cremation arrangements
Grief counseling

The history of funeral homes is a testament to the evolution of societal norms and beliefs about death. In earlier times, funerals were often held at home and handled by family members. But as societies got more complex and death became more medicalized, professionals stepped in to handle these things. This led to the rise and evolution of the funeral home industry we know today.

Planning a funeral can be an overwhelming process. We need to make many decisions in a short period of time. The emotional pain of losing a loved one complicates the matter manifold.

This is where funeral homes come in. They can help with deciding what type of service you want, selecting a casket or urn, managing the obituary and death notices, and coordinating with the cemetery.

Cremation Facilities

There are a couple of commonly preferred cremation services. One option is direct cremation, where the body is cremated shortly after death without a funeral service. A memorial or funeral service is held at a later date when the ashes can be disposed of or buried.

Another option is cremation with memorial services, where loved ones can gather to remember the deceased at the crematorium.

These facilities often provide additional options like urn selection, scattering services, and memorial jewelry.

Choosing cremation involves both practical and emotional considerations.

On the practical side, cremation tends to be more cost-effective than traditional burials and provides greater flexibility in memorial service planning.
Emotionally, it offers a way for the bereaved to gain closure the way they want, through the preservation or scattering of ashes.

However, there are also legal and environmental considerations when choosing cremation. Legally, certain permits and authorizations are needed before a body can be cremated. Environmentally, while cremation uses fewer resources than traditional burials, it does contribute to air pollution through the burning and through the chemicals that might have been used in the body.

Aquamation and human composting are considerably greener options that are becoming more and more available.

Cemeteries

At the heart of the deathcare industry are cemeteries — tranquil spaces dedicated to honoring and remembering the dead. Often, they’re more than just burial grounds; they are historical sites that tell a story about the people and the times they lived in.

Traditional cemeteries are what most people think of when picturing these sacred grounds, filled with tombstones and cemetery monuments that mark each grave.
Memorial parks or garden cemeteries, on the other hand, offer a picturesque environment where cemetery monuments are flush with the ground, creating a park-like setting.
Then there are green or natural cemeteries that focus on environmental sustainability, allowing for decomposition to occur naturally without embalming or vaults.

Maintaining these peaceful spaces involves a significant amount of work, commonly known as cemetery maintenance. This includes mowing the grass, cleaning and repairing monuments, managing the landscape, and ensuring the overall ambiance of a place for commemoration and reflection.

Deathcare Services

There are many deathcare services that offer comfort, guidance, and practical solutions. These services can be divided into four main categories:

The ceremony
The disposition of the body, be it through cremation or internment
Memorials like headstones and inscriptions
Grief counseling

Aftercare services play a crucial role, offering ongoing support to the bereaved through resources like grief counseling and support groups. They’ll also help you choose between traditional burial, cremation, or alternative options like green burials, and deciding on the type of ceremony or mortuary service.

Funeral pre-planning is often recommended as it lets you make important decisions at your own pace. It’s also a great way to avoid excessive costs.

Cremation is generally less expensive compared to traditional burial
However, additional costs like urns or niches for ashes storage can add up

Legal requirements also factor into the equation, with necessary paperwork such as death certificates and permits needing to be accounted for.

Here is a breakdown of the most common deathcare services, including an important end-of-life planning service like estate planning.

Estate Planning Services

Estate planning services are an essential part of life that often gets overlooked. It’s not just for the wealthy; everyone should think about this.

It’s essentially the act of arranging for the distribution of your assets after your death. It involves making critical decisions about your property and who will manage your affairs if you become unable to do so.

Key components of an estate plan include setting up wills and trusts, and power of attorney. These services ensure your finances and health are taken care of should you become incapacitated.

Lawyers, financial planners, and accountants all play essential roles in helping create an effective estate plan. They’ll help you deal with complex tasks like making sure your estate planning documents meet state laws.

Body Transportation

Body transportation, a process governed by stringent laws and regulations, involves the respectful and safe transfer of a deceased person. Necessary documentation includes:

Medical certificates validating the cause of death
Transit permits

Services can offer ground or air transportation, with ground typically for local or regional journeys and air for long distances or international travels. Each has specific requirements to ensure safety and respect.

In some cases, international repatriation is needed, which involves complex logistics, customs clearance, and consular coordination. Paper-wise, this is the most complex part of death.

Embalming

The significance of embalming dates back to ancient Egypt, where it evolved as an elaborate ritual tied to religious beliefs about the afterlife. The practice was intricately woven into their cultural fabric with the idea that it would help the deceased in their journey to the afterlife.

While the specific embalming procedures have advanced significantly and have completely different cultural connotations, at its core, the goal is the same. It is a process that preserves a corpse from decay, typically by soaking, injecting, or otherwise treating the body with conserving chemicals.

Embalming services aren’t free from controversies or ethical considerations:

There are environmental concerns about embalming chemicals, some of which are carcinogenic and could seep into the ground.
Ethical questions also come up about whether or not it’s right to interfere with the natural process of decomposition.

Casket and Urn Sales: An Unseen Variety

Choosing a final resting place is something we all need to do. The choice can be harder because of the variety of urns and caskets available today.

Caskets, often used for burials, can be made from wood, metal, or biodegradable materials, each with a unique appeal.
Urns, preferred for cremation, also come in many different materials including ceramic, glass, and biodegradable substances, and can even be customized.

The pricing of urns and caskets varies based on material, design, and retailer markup, with sometimes cheaper options available through third-party sellers.

Moreover, you can be buried without a casket in a ‘natural’ or ‘green’ burial. However, rules vary by location. Many traditional cemeteries have their own requirements that strip away much of the choice, which is not necessarily a bad thing.

Funeral Services and Ceremonies

Funeral services have evolved to respect various cultural, religious, and personal preferences.

Traditional burials, through the power of ritual and shared grief, allow loved ones to express their sorrow and receive a form of closure. They involve a viewing, a funeral ceremony for eulogies and prayers, and a graveside service for the final farewell.
Cremation services, often a more affordable funeral service, are on the rise. The flexibility allows ashes to be kept, scattered, or transformed into keepsakes. A subsequent memorial service can celebrate the deceased’s life at a more convenient time and location.

Regardless of the service type, incorporating cultural or religious traditions can provide comfort through the power of ritual. At the same time, the options for personalization and customization of the burial services are greater than ever, allowing for truly memorable tributes.

Grief Support Services

Seeking help through grief counseling isn’t a sign of weakness but a step toward healing. Dealing with loss is challenging, but grief support services provide compassion and understanding.

Individual counseling creates a confidential space for expressing feelings, while trained professionals help with coping strategies.
Community support groups share experiences, connections, practical advice, and reduced isolation.
Online resources, such as forums, articles, webinars, and virtual counseling sessions are available anytime.

These grief support methods promote understanding of grief, validation of feelings, coping mechanisms, and overall well-being. Don’t underestimate them.

Cost of Deathcare

Funeral packages are one of the most noticeable costs associated with deathcare. These can vary greatly in price depending on the type of service chosen, the location, and the funeral home’s pricing structure.

A lavish, traditional burial could cost tens of thousands of dollars, while more affordable options like a direct funeral or cremation packages might only set you back a few thousand.

Medical bills also form a significant part of the total deathcare cost. In the final stages of life, many of us need intensive medical care that adds up.

Legal fees are another expense to consider in the cost of deathcare.

This could include the cost of executing a will, settling an estate, or even resolving disputes among family members.

Cultural traditions and personal preferences also have a significant impact on the cost as well.

For instance, some cultures have elaborate funeral traditions that may involve costly rituals, while others prefer simple funeral ceremonies.

Summary

Deathcare includes a variety of services such as funerals, cremations, and memorials. But it’s much more than that. What deathcare is providing helps us get through one of the most difficult times in life.

Funeral preferences and financial arrangements are part of this crucial planning.

Additionally, the deathcare industry encourages forward-thinking It prompts us to make end-of-life arrangements ahead of time to ease the burden on our loved ones.

For every ending, comes a new beginning. Live well, end well.

Join over 30 million people who trust Endwll to stay on top of it all, from health and wellness to funeral planning.

Learn more

For every ending, comes a new beginning. Live well, end well.

Join over 30 million people who trust Endwll to stay on top of it all, from health and wellness to funeral planning.

Learn more

What Is Deathcare: Definition, Types, and Resources