Most consumers understand the importance of planning their final arrangements in advance, but many fail to actually take the first step towards making their plans.
Comparison shopping in advance is the best way to find the funeral provider that's right for you – one that carries out your wishes and delivers the quality, value and services you want.
Shopping around for preplanned funeral arrangements really isn't all that different from comparing the quality and value of anything else we buy. The basics are the same, with a few added considerations:
- First, have a discussion about your loved one's desire to prearrange his or her services with family and caretakers. Remember that everyone has the right to decide for themselves how they would like their funeral to be.
- Second, have your loved one compare the different levels of service and quality of any potential funeral providers to determine the one that offers the best options and pricing for your loved one. A quality funeral provider will listen to your loved one's wishes and work with them to plan the service they desire.
- Be sure that your loved one looks for added services and benefits that might impact their selection. For example, some people refrain from prearranging their funeral services because they are uncertain of where they may be living in the future. If this is a concern, look for a funeral provider that allows for portability of arrangements. Members of the Dignity Memorial® network of funeral and cremation providers offer what is known as the National Transferability of Prearranged Services. This benefit enables a prearranged funeral service to be fully transferable to any Dignity Memorial provider in North America, should your loved one move more than 75 miles from where their original arrangements were made.
- Grief management support might also be a consideration. The grief that accompanies the loss of a loved one can be difficult to cope with on your own. You and your loved one may want to work with a funeral provider that offers grief management support. Dignity Memorial providers offer the Dignity Memorial Guidance Series, a collection of booklets, DVDs and CDs that provide professional advice and compassionate insights on grief, as well as access to a 24-Hour Compassion Helpline®, staffed by professionals with advanced degrees and specialized training in grief counseling.
- Consider how your loved one may want to personalize their funeral service to reflect their interests, hobbies and personality. Customized memorial services are becoming increasingly popular. Making arrangements in advance ensures that your loved one's funeral will be the unique, personal service they desire. A quality funeral service provider will listen to and respect your loved one's ideas and should work to incorporate them wherever possible.
- When shopping around for a funeral provider, your loved one should also consider the impact on their loved ones. Another benefit of the Dignity Memorial network is its Bereavement Travel Program, through which dedicated travel specialists will seek out the best available airfares, as well as hotel accommodations and car rentals for all family and friends who wish to attend a funeral, cremation, memorial or graveside service. The Child/Grandchild Protection Plan (available in some areas) will provide funeral or cremation services at no cost up to the level of Dignity Memorial plan selected for any unmarried child or grandchild less than 21 years of age.
- Lastly, when comparison shopping, remember that price should not be the only consideration, or the primary consideration, when planning funeral and cemetery services. Just as one might be willing to pay more for a luxury vehicle or luxury hotel stay, be aware there is a wide range of service standards, added benefits and other options among funeral providers.
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