Funeral advisers support the bereaved and the dying to plan a funeral.
The role of the funeral adviser is to support bereaved individuals and families through the period between imminent or actual death and the funeral, or to help someone plan a funeral for the future. By providing information and increasing the availability of choices, the funeral adviser can ensure that the informed wishes of the deceased and the bereaved are heard and included in the funeral.
The specific roles a funeral adviser fulfils are to:
- Provide information on the rules and regulations around funerals, burial and cremation and other practicalities following death.
- Provide information and cost estimates to enable the bereaved to make informed decisions and spend their funeral budget to deliver the best possible funeral. This includes information on local funeral directors, crematoria, cemeteries and churches, village halls and other possible venues for the funeral, gravediggers, funeral conductors, local musicians and artists.
- Give information about all options for burial and cremation, for example woodland burial and burial on private land.
- Make available information and choice for a wide range of funeral purchases, including coffins, urns and shrouds.
- Help the bereaved family to arrange a unique, inspiring and appropriate funeral, which reflects the character and spiritual beliefs of the deceased.
- Give emotional and practical support to the family and friends during a very difficult period.
- Provide basic information and guidance on related areas like bereavement benefits, pre-payment plans, living wills and next of kin.
- Help clients to think about advanced directives and living wills, in order to make appropriate choices for them with regard to their last days or months of life.
- Stimulate thought and discussion on death, dying and funerals through holding discussion groups and liasing with associated groups and professionals.
An independent funeral adviser can advise you on the following:
- What to do when someone dies - procedures and paperwork.
- What's involved in arranging a funeral.
- Getting quotes from funeral directors.
- Caring for the body.
- Different types of burial (cemetery, churchyard, woodland, private land).
- Different types of coffins, shrouds and urns.
- Cremation and scattering ashes.
- Local funeral service providers and products.
- Locations for ceremonies and resources in your local area.
- Participating in arranging a funeral.
- What makes a good funeral.
- Who can lead a funeral.
- Religious, non-religious and individual faith funerals.
- How to create a personal and inspiring funeral ceremony.
- Paying for a funeral.
- Green funerals.
- Family led funerals.
- What to do if you want to make a complaint.
- Planning a funeral in advance.
