Allied Professionals | National Funeral Director's Association

Allied Professionals

Working With Funeral Professionals to Better Serve Families

As an end-of-life professional, whether you’re a hospice professional, death/end-of-life doula, chaplain, medical professional or other end-of-life provider, you’re called to serve individuals and families at one of the most difficult times in their lives. You guide them through difficult decisions, encourage them to have meaningful conversations and support them during the final days and hours of life. After the death of a loved one, however, families and friends may not be sure about what to do next when it comes to honoring their loved one in meaningful ways.

The direction you provide can help ensure they have access to the information and resources they need to plan a tribute that honors their loved one and offers them an opportunity to gather and grieve with family and friends and begin to move forward after their loss. Establishing a relationship with a local funeral director can help ensure you have the information and resources the family need after they leave your care.

Collaborating with Funeral Professionals Collaborating with your local funeral service professional and funeral home is beneficial for you, your profession, the families you serve and your community. When you work closely with your local funeral home, you will:

. Gain the knowledge to educate families about the service options available in their community, including casketed burial, cremation, celebrations of life, green funerals/natural burial, viewing options, interment options, cremation jewelry and more.

. Expand your network of end-of-life professionals.

. Grow your business.

. Meet others who share your compassion and commitment to serving families.

MAKING A CONNECTION

A Little Background on Funeral Homes

There are roughly 20,000 funeral homes in the United States. Some are small, family-owned funeral homes that might only have one or two staff members who do everything, from meeting with families and making arrangements, to embalming and managing the funeral the day of. Those one or two staff members also likely handle all maintenance of the funeral home facility themselves. Other funeral homes are larger with more staff who each specialize in one or more aspects of funeral service – things like making arrangements, embalming, and managing the funeral the day of. All funeral homes, large or small, are dedicated to walking side-by-side a grieving family as they prepare to say goodbye to a loved one.

And what all funeral directors have in common is that they are united in helping families remember their loved ones in meaningful ways and helping them move forward in their grief journey. Whether they help families plan a more traditional service in a funeral home or church, a graveside service with a natural burial, or a celebration of life at a local restaurant, the commitment to serving families is the same.

Learn About Today’s Funeral Professionals