A caregiver faces many difficult and rewarding challenges. Among them are preparing your relative, other family members and yourself for the end of life transition.
PREPARATIONS & ARRANGEMENTS Open a conversation to discuss your relative’s wishes. Consider asking the following questions:
To become more informed on the various burial choices and details such as locating cemetery plots, casket options or cremation specifics, you can call or visit your local mortuaries or contact the funeral association.
FUNERAL & CREMATION COSTS Since costs vary you may want to compare prices. Most mortuaries will answer questions about expenses, payment options and advanced planning services. Funeral directors are required to give you a price sheet with detailed funeral costs, and give prices over the phone if you ask. Be sure to ask about any extra fees that might be included in the prices. Cost of a casket usually only the most expensive caskets are displayed in the funeral home. Less expensive alternatives are available. Low cost caskets can be purchased through casket outlets that are not associated with a specific funeral home. Some mortuaries will rent their more expensive caskets to be used only during memorial services or viewing. Cost of a funeral – a “traditional” funeral may cost over $6,000. A Direct Burial can be less than $500 not including the cemetery plot, obituary, death certificates and other details. A Direct Cremation may cost less than $500 but usually does not exceed $1,000.
Funeral costs can be borne by the estate of the person who died, may be paid by advanced planning contracts, life insurance plans or family members. Social Security provides a funeral allowance in the amount of $250 for eligible recipients paid either to the surviving spouse or a child less than 18 years of age. The Veterans Administration (VA) provides a burial benefit for military veterans and their spouses. If your relative is in the process of applying or may need to apply to ALTCS there are rules that pertain to burial plans (contact Pima Council on Aging or the Arizona Funeral Directors Association for more information). Some funeral associations and religious congregations assist members with funeral expenses. In Pima County, inquiries about indigent burials (for persons who die without any resources or ability to pay) should be made to the Office of the Public Fiduciary (Ph: (520) 740-5454).
CREMATION AS AN OPTION TO BURIAL
Greater awareness of cremation as an alternative to burial is growing in part due to its relatively low cost compared to burial. Things to consider include:
BODY DONATION
Your loved one has to pre-register or enroll with a medical program in their area. The medical program may not be able to accept their body under certain circumstances, such as: removal of an organ or part of the body, decomposition of the body, severe trauma, suicide or the presence of contagious diseases.
Your local mortuary will assist you in preparing the body and arranging for transportation to the receiving location. The mortuary will acquire the death certificates, arrange the appropriate permits and air transportation on your behalf.
HELPFUL POINTERS FOR CAREGIVERS
America, Phone: (312) 321-6806
www.cremationassociation.org
• Federal Trade Commission, “Funerals: A Consumer Guide”
www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/
services/funeral.htm
• Funeral Consumer Alliance: toll free
(800) 765-0107; or (800) 458-5563
www.funerals.org/
www.pcoa.org
(check your local directory or call Pima Council on Aging)
PATHFINDER: A Guide for
helping older relatives or friends make more
informed choices about end of life decisions
Prepared for Pima Council on Aging by the Arizona
Center on Aging, the University of Arizona®