Cost Of Dying/Cyber Field Trip

gero department banner

Cyber Field Trip Pre Arranged Funeral

Do you know the steps involved in arranging a funeral. If someone close to you died today would you know what to do next?

Your assignment is to prearrange your (or you can do a make belief person if you are uncomfortable doing your own) funeral and body deposition, (e.g. cremation, burial etc) and advise your family on how to carry out your exact wishes.

Follow the points below, and be sure to include the specifics. For example, you will need to name companies, give specifics when asked about the transport of your body, and explain exactly what you want to happen in your funeral services (even if you are cremated your friends and relatives will need to say "good by)". Exactly what will the cost be in today's dollars? Pick a casket, where do you buy it?

In order to do this you will need to do research on the web. Links are provided below and as always you can do a search and find some of your own.

Your grade is based on how well you explain the following :

First, explain to your family what has happened to the traditional community based funeral homes .
Explain how you can save money on a traditional funeral (we are not talking cremation here).

At a minimum include how to save money on casket prices, storing remains (the body), and transportation of the body to the funeral home.

Whether you plan a burial or cremation, should you have purchased a pre-paid burial plan ?

What are the advantages and disadvantages? (you have to do the reading here to answer this, it can be tricky- be careful).

How would you like the remains to be disposed of? (burial, cremation, donation, etc.)

Who picks up the body-Who do they need to contact?

What services, activities or celebration do you want to celebrate your life? Please explain in detail (food, music, speakers etc. )

How much will this cost? including body disposition, permits, death certificates etc.?

If you choose cremation explain to your family which crematorium you want to use and exactly how it will work. Address each of the items below for a cremation.

Which crematorium did you choose? Why and where is it?
How do they get your body to the crematorium?
What type of casket if any is needed for a cremation? Cost?
Permits required ? By whom?
How are ashes disposed? Is it legal?
What do you want to wear?
Any special items you want placed in the crematorium with you?
What is the cost at the place you chose?
Is it the same, less, or more than other places? Why?

Friendly reminder. This assignment takes the place of the lecture ( 3 hours of class time) plus homework time. So be thorough. Your posting must be grounded in either class materials or researched information and cited .

Here are some resources: Also look at the Electric Handouts or feel free to also find your own.

Consumer Guide to Funerals http://www.ashesonthesea.com/consumerguide.htm NOTE if a dialog box appears just hit cancel and it will load.

Consumers Rights to Funerals
http://consumerlawpage.com/article/cremations.shtml

This is a BLOG but interesting ideas to consider http://www.bendover.com/funeralHome.asp

Memorial Ecosystems http://www.memorialecosystems.com/

Check this site for funeral home regulations
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/products/pro19.shtm

Greener Ways to the Great Beyond
http://www.taph.com/eco-friendly-burial/greener-ways-to-the-great-beyond-4.html

National Casket Retailers
http://www.casketstores.com/November.htm

Research pre-paid plans. http://www.thesandiegochannel.com/money/2835672/detail.html

AARP Pre Planning tips. http://www.aarp.org/money/wise_consumer/smartshopping/funerals.html

Check out this persons ideas about pre-arrangement http://www.maecox.ca/preneed.htm

AARP gives tips on how to shop for funeral and burial goods and services.

http://search.aarp.org/cgi-bin/htsearch?config=htdig_www_aarp_org&restrict=&exclude=
research.aarp.org+www.aarpmagazine.org+www.faar.org&words=funerals

BUILD A CASKET will send a do-it-yourself kit ($499) for construction of a no-frills casket.

http://www.squidoo.com/coffin/

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Do-It-Yourself/Build-Coffin.aspx

DIRECT CASKET guarantees its products, delivers within 24 hours, and gives information on casket materials.

http://www.directcasket.com/

The FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION's official Web site outlines consumer-protection laws related to funeral goods.

www.ftc.gov/bcp/rulemaking/funeral/index.htm

The FUNERAL CONSUMERS ALLIANCE, a nonprofit organization, provides information about funeral products and services.

http://www.funerals.org/

FUNERALNET lists more than 21,000 funeral homes and gives information about special services for veterans.

http://www.funeralnet.com/

The NATIONAL FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION lists retailers and other funeral information.

http://www.nfdma.com/resources.htm

THE VIRTUAL MEMORIAL GARDEN provides free perpetual memorials.

catless.ncl.ac.uk/vmg

adapted from Modern Maturity March-April 2002

You may also simply Google-"what do I need to know to plan a funeral"

Organize your thoughts so that your message is as brief as possible perhaps composing it in word or some other word processing program before posting it. After you compose it, go back and see what you can eliminate and still say the same thing before you post. Remember to compose this as if you were sending an email to this person then post it to the board.

Extra Credit Worth up to 3 points depending on your effort. Please use a separate thread to post using the subject line "Extra Credit".

Tell us the name of the article and your reaction to the article you completed in the Experience of Dying section,
Relate it to class one theory or idea you have learned so far in class. (Don't tell us what it was about, we read it too (although you may discuss the main points if it supports your assessment).
tell us why you think this article was or was not important to read in a Gerontology class.

[Web_Assign/includes2/return_to.htm]