Funeral directors and hospice caregivers share a common goal of comforting families. Hospice caregivers work with a person and their family through their final days and are often present when a loved one passes and can be first to provide important grief support to them.

Funeral directors assist with discussing options with the family after someone has passed. They plan the arrangements and funeral services. Studies show this is a critical part of the grief process for families.

A survey conducted for the Funeral and Memorial Information Council (FAMIC) found that more than 90% of respondents agreed on the importance of memorial services and their part in the healing process.

Working Together

If you haven’t already, you should consider reaching out to your community’s hospice services. By working together, you both can improve the quality of service you provide.

As a funeral director, you can share resources and knowledge and help facilitate a planning process, which eases the burden on a family after a loss. You are the family’s greatest resource on the different kinds of memorial services and tributes offered.

A hospice professional has spent a lot of time caring for the deceased and their family. They can offer great insight on how to best memorialize a person and give perspective on the kinds of services that would ideally suit the needs of the family and help in the bereavement process.

Even after a funeral service, a partnership with your community hospice can help develop aftercare grief materials to continue supporting the family.

Building Community

Beyond developing and sharing resources, you also could consider holding some events to build bonds within your community:

• Host memorial services together, especially around difficult times like holidays
• Put together a lecture or series on the grieving process
• Hold educational seminars about the importance of preplanning
• Host charity events to collect for community veterans
• Host holiday luncheons for a nursing home
• Hold an event to talk about the kinds of services, arrangements, and memorial tributes offered