RESOURCES & LINKS
An interview, headed by Mark Koebrich of Channel 9 News was aired on April 26, entitled "How to not break the bank paying for your funeral services". The interview, conducted by Koebrich, highlighted our own Funeral Consumers Society of Colorado, featuring Board member Jill Ross, and one of FCSC's Contract Providers, Jim Stork. To view the entire airing, go to: http://www.9news.com/article/life/senior-source/how-to-not-break-the-bank-paying-for-your-funeral-services/73-545810121.
2014 Price Survey of Funeral Home Costs In Colorado
What To Do When You Can't Afford a Funeral
Josh Slocum, FCA executive director
"The most important thing to remember is that a meaningful, heartfelt memorial doesn't need to cost more than your family can afford. Whether you spend $600 or $10,000, you'll love and miss the deceased just as much. It's the coming together of family and friends to laugh, cry, and love each other that makes a funeral meaningful, not the amount of money it costs.
And this is crucial: there is no charity or government organization that will pay off any debt you've accrued if you arrange a funeral that's beyond your means. It's your family's responsibility to spend within its budget. Funeral homes are not required to let you pay in installments; many these days are asking for payment upfront. While this might seem frustrating, it's a responsible business practice and it prevents many grieving people from falling into a financial trap when they're not thinking clearly. Sweating the monthly bills six months after the death because the funeral payments are high does not, I assure you, help lift the burden of grief."
There are some suggestions for creative ways to economize, and otherwise pay for funeral or memorial expenses on the FCA web site: www.funerals.org
There are over 25 printable informative pamphlets available through FCA, on their web site (www.funerals.org)---look under "For Consumers", "FAQ's" for others not sampled here: Green Burial; How to Plan a Memorial Service; Common Funeral Myths; Organ and Body Donation; Veterans Burial Benefits; Cremation Explained; How to File a Funeral or Cemetery Complaint.
OTHER IMPORTANT LINKS
Colorado Department of Public Health and environment, Bureau of Vital Statistics (www.cdphe.state.co.us/certs/index.html)
Donor Alliance (www.donoralliance.org) is an organ/tissue recovery organization
State Anatomical Board of the State of Colorado U. of CO @ Denver, receives donated bodies for the purpose of education and research
ScienceCare (www.sciencecare.com) is an accredited whole body donation program
Colorado Cemetery Association, DORA () for a listing of funeral homes, or reporting a complaint
How to order a death certificate (www.cdphe.state.co.us)
Home funerals (www.naturaltransitions.org)
Compassion and Choices (compassionandchoices.org) for topics such as "Die with Dignity", and "Assistance With Dying"
A link to "What to do When Someone Dies":
Funeral home prices can be compared by visiting a nationwide database, started in 2015 in California. Prices can be searched by location, with a link to their General Price Lists. Visit: www.parting.com.
A link to "How to Arrange a Home Funeral":
https://funerals.org/?consumers=how-to-arrange-a-home-funeral
Whole Body Donation:
The Dementia Values & Priorities Tool walks individuals through the common stages of dementia.
The Dementia Decoder, allows users to indicate the current status of their dementia diagnosis.
Christian Hospital Sets Off National Challenge To Aid-In-Dying Laws; in Colorado case, the right to aid a cancer patient’s death runs up against faith-based hospital policies.
https://khn.org/news/doctor-fired-catholic-hospital-challenges-aid-in-dying-laws/