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How to Talk to Your Family About Your Funeral Arrangements

The vast majority of over 50s are comfortable with the idea of talking to their friends and families about their funeral arrangements and pre-paid funeral plans. A recent study conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Ecclesiastical Planning Services found that while stigma around death is still prevalent in the UK, people are generally comfortable discussing their own last wishes.

The survey carried out by OnePoll on behalf of Ecclesiastical Planning Services asked 1,000 people aged 50 and above whether they’d discussed their funeral plans with family or friends. The study found that 71% of respondents had already spoken to their family. If you aren’t sure how to broach the subject, we’ve shared our advice on how to talk to your family about your funeral plans.

Find out what you can plan in advance

Before you begin speaking to your family about your funeral arrangement, it’s worth considering what you can plan in advance independently and with your family.

Most of a funeral service can be arranged in advance including the service elements, the venue, catering, burial plots and more. When purchasing one of our funeral packages, you can also make decisions on the style of your coffin or urn, for a truly personalised send-off.

Respect your family’s emotions

You may have already come to terms with making funeral arrangements and might have been thinking about it for a few months, or even years. But it’s important to be prepared for your family to become emotional.

They may not be ready to face the discussion and if they find it too emotional, it’s worth stepping back and bringing it up again once they’ve had time to get used to the idea.

When your family is ready, allow them to ask you open-ended questions, where you can answer clearly about your last wishes. It’s unlikely you’ll be able to cover everything in one conversation, so maintain an ongoing open dialogue so that you can discuss the topic again in future.

Consider whether a pre-paid funeral is right for you

As more people over 50 become comfortable with the idea of planning their funerals, there is an increasing number of people opting for funeral payment plans. You may choose to weigh up the options of a pre-paid funeral with your family to see if it’s the right choice for you.

Pre-paid funerals allow you to pay now to spare your relatives financial stress when the time comes. At Douch Family Funeral Directors, our Dorset Funeral Plan can be paid through a one-off payment or through regular instalments to suit you.

To find out more information about Douch Family Funeral Director’s funeral packages, funeral services or pre-paid funeral plans get in contact with your local funeral director in Dorset.

Sources:

OnePoll Research of 1,000 men and women aged 50 and above on behalf of Ecclesiastical Planning Services, November 2017.

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