NBE Arts

Use of Telephone: Notification of Death

Information for transfer of the deceased; name, date of birth, time of death, special circumstances i.e. size, weight; location and directions; relationship or authority of person calling; physician who will sign death certificate; method of disposition; permission to transfer and embalm; assure the body is released.

Arrangement Conference 1

Present various options to meet family needs and coordinate tasks to facilitate desired services: religious requirements; legal requirements; local customs; cultural customs, event planning, preparation for disposition tasks

Arrangement Conference 2

Items included: required price lists; funeral details; officiant; date and time of service; pallbearers; financial arrangements contributions; merchandise and memorial items; visitation; type of service; method of disposition; reception

Arrangement Conference 3

Obtain information for: death certificate; death notice/obituary; burial-transit permit; interstate or international transfer

Arrangement Conference 4

Discuss government benefits/programs: social security; death benefits from employers; VA benefits; VA cemeteries; custodial care cases

Arrangement Conference 5

Obtain Signatures on forms by legal next of in or person(s) in charge for selected funeral type: release and disclosure, authorization to embalm, cremation authorization form, authorization for minimum care services

Pre-need

Types: pre-planned vs pre-funded

Reasons: personal wishes; informed decisions; relieve survivors; reduction of asses for Medicaid eligibility

Types of contracts: revocable, irrevocable, guaranteed, nonguaranteed

Arrangement conference for pre-funded/pre-planned funerals: and merchandise; state and federal regulations; FTC Funeral Rule; location; service

Alterations to pre-funded contracts: effects on guaranteed contracts, alterations that may void the contract, unavailability of services and/or merchandise

Wishes of the deceased vs the wishes of the funeral planner: legal effect of prefunded and pre-planned contracts; rights and duties of next of kin; third party beneficiary contracts

Types of funding for pre-funded arrangements: individual and master trust accounts; insurance; savings/passbook accounts

Documentation

Reason/rationale: legal issues, regulatory compliance, archival

Communication with family, family member, and/or other entities

Professional liability business, personal, technical

Directing the Funeral

Pre-service details: preparation of body after embalming; coordinate details with clergy/officiant, funeral home staff; cemetery/crematory; fraternal/military organizations; speakers; musicians

Organize place of service: funeral home; church; other facility

Inspect and prepare viewing/visitation area: placement of casket; arrange floral pieces; tribute articles, i.e., military vs fraternal rituals; background music; register book; personal mementos; other sundry items

Receiving visitors: role of staff, directions, seating, etc.

Attending to funeral details: family wishes; religious & custom expectations and participation; arrange procession according to local customs, seating arrangements; instructions to casketbearers; dismissal, coordination with celebration/clergy, committal/reception

Post funeral follow-up; Aftercare

Listening skills

General communication skills

Grief theory

Religious funeral customs

Orthodox, reform, and conservative Jewish; Islamic; Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic; Protestant; Mormon; Christian Science; Buddhist; Jehovah’s Witness; Hindu; Humanistic

Fraternal and Military Groups

Fraternal organizations: determine contact person; nature of service; location; coordinate details

Veterans organization

Military honors: eligibility; documentation; branch of service; complete funeral detail, proper etiquette to display and handle the flag

Active military personnel: military escort; expense reimbursement

Shipping of Human Remains and Cremated Remains

Intrastate and interstate: forwarding and receiving remains; preparation of body for transport; shipping containers; necessary paperwork; TSA “known shipper” requirements

Shipping of cremated remains - domestic USPS Priority Mail Express

International shipments of human remains, and/or cremated remains: coordinate with Consulate; affidavit of “no contagious disease”; embalming certificate notary and/or apostille; fees

Cremation

Arranging for cremation: considerations; required forms; containers

Arranging for disposition of cremated remains: legal restrictions; local customs; methods

Alternative Disposition Methods

“Green” burial; cryonics; burial at sea; anatomical donation; alkaline hydrolysis; other alternative methods