Funeral Planning in a Pandemic

15 April 2020

It is an inescapable fact that many thousands of people are likely to die from Covid-19 over the next few weeks and months and the rules regarding attendance at their funerals will continue to be severely restricted.

The severity of the effects of Covid-19 have resulted in the untimely deaths of more than 10,000 hospital patients and many more people in residential and nursing care homes. Government estimates of future UK deaths vary from 20,000 – 50,000 before an effective vaccination can be provided to contain this virus.

Cremations, which account for about 80% of funerals currently, are being conducted in ever-increasing numbers without a funeral service or the attendance of mourners due to rules regarding social distancing.

In normal circumstances increasing numbers of people are planning their own funerals so as to ease the emotional burden and financial worry from their next of kin when the time comes and they may be least able to cope.

Sadly, the current situation complicates this as choosing a comprehensive plan that would include the funeral director’s services, a hearse and limousines, a funeral service with music and flowers, the attendance of mourners and a choice of burial or cremation would be a waste of money if there is no other choice than an impersonal cremation without the presence of family and friends.

Taking this into consideration The National Careline, an independent funeral planning specialist dealing only with companies that are registered with The Funeral Planning Authority, has researched several potential strategies to help overcome this situation and a solution has been identified.

This solution can be arranged online with telephone advice being provided by their specialist funeral planning advisers.

Overview of the plan

What is included:

• A direct cremation service only.
• Professional services of a funeral director, the collection of the deceased from the place of death in hospital or the coroner’s mortuary
• Conveyance of the deceased to the crematorium where cremation will take place – these fees are guaranteed!

What is not included:

• Viewing the deceased, any limousines, any service or the attendance of mourners

The cremated remains will normally be scattered at the crematoria but can be made available to the next of kin at an extra cost

Guarantee

Your plan is fixed at today’s rates, so you can rest assured that the funeral of your choice can be planned today and will be guaranteed to cover the full cost of your cremation funeral whenever the time comes, regardless of the actual funeral cost in the future.

Future Benefits

Eventually, the number of deaths associated with the Corvid-19 virus will decrease and clients that have had the foresight to purchase a Direct Cremation plan and have survived may wish to convert their plan to one that is more elaborate and better suited to their personal wishes.

Our chosen plan provider currently has a wide choice of inclusive funeral plans and it is a simple process to change your existing plan to any one of these.

Your current plan would be cancelled and the funds would be apportioned to your new selection, which will be priced at the current rate at the time of switching.

You will not be charged a cancellation fee.

Next Steps

If you would like to arrange a personal, and without cost or obligation, appointment with our funeral planning specialist Ted Yeates, please email ted.yeates@thenationalcareline.org or contact him by telephone on 07539 645514.

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