DATA SHOWS COVID-19 IMPACT ON FUNERAL SERVICE IS SIGNIFICANT


 DATA SHOWS COVID-19 IMPACT ON FUNERAL
SERVICE IS SIGNIFICANT

BROOKFIELD, Wis., PRNewswire -- The long-lasting
repercussions of the COVID-19 are only just now being fully
understood as data from the last two years becomes more
widely accessible. Data from the 2022 Cremation and Burial
Report, released by the National Funeral Directors Association
(NFDA), shows that one of the most notably impacted is the
funeral service profession.

 COVID-19-related fatalities in the U.S. increased the total number of deaths by 543,000 in 2021; the pandemic is
expected to cause an additional 289,000 deaths in 2022. The
most significant impacts of the pandemic on funeral homes and services can be seen in the following areas:

Technology’s Pivotal Role in Memorial Services: A significant
spike in demand was seen when 74.4% of funeral homes reported that the number of families they served increased, especially in large metropolitan areas. While some funeral homes already offered livestreaming services, since the onset of the pandemic, more than half of NFDA-member funeral homes began doing so to help families safely gather while adhering to restrictions on public gatherings. Funeral homes are predicted to continue to expand this and other offerings – such as virtual funerals and an increased array of options to meet the needs of families with diverse cultural and faith traditions – in the future.

Increase in Online Arrangements: 40% of NFDA funeral
homes now offer online cremation arrangements; 28.2% plan
to offer the ability to make cremation arrangements online
within the next five years. NFDA’s 2022 Consumer Awareness
& Preferences Report noted that while many more consumers
are venturing online to plan a funeral or memorial service,
more than half (53.7%) noted that even though they had a good experience, they still needed the assistance of a funeral director. Nearly 10% indicated they did not get the personalized service they would have received had they worked with a funeral director and just over 1% said planning online was impersonal and not a good experience for their family.

Crematory Ownership Up: With the annual number of
cremations in the U.S. expected to rise from 1.91 million in
2022 to 2.26 million by 2030, and to 2.94 million by 2040,
there has, in turn, been growth in the number of funeral homes operating their own crematories. Approximately 39% of funeral homes in the country now operate their own crematories
and another 12% plan to open their own within the next five years. The highest concentration of crematories in the U.S. are in the Southeast, Great Lakes, and MidAtlantic regions where there tends to be a higher population density and a higher percentage of people 65 or older.

Labor Shortage: The employment rate for funeral service
workers is expected to grow by 4% from 2020 to 2030, thus
many firms anticipate hiring eligible workers to be a future
challenge.

As cremation becomes more socially accepted among the
public, another factor contributing to it outnumbering traditional
burials in the U.S. is the rise in the number of Americans who
do not identify with a religion. Other factors at play include
lower costs associated with cremation services, changing consumer preferences, weakening prohibitions, and environmental concerns.

In 2021, NFDA member funeral homes reported 41% of
consumers chose a direct cremation, 35% chose a cremation
with memorial service, and 24% chose a casketed adult funeral with viewing and cremation. NFDA projects the cremation rate in all 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C. will exceed 50% by 2035.

“Even though it’s been a couple years since the onset of
the pandemic, we are just now seeing the data that reflects the
true impact and influence it has had on the way people memorialize and grieve their loved ones,” said NFDA President Randy Anderson, CFSP, COO. “As funeral directors, we are always here to assist and guide families in our communities to create an experience that they prefer, whether it’s blending familiar rituals with contemporary preferences, like cremation, or planning a tradition funeral and memorial service, to help them grieve and heal in the best way possible for them.”

Throughout the pandemic years, funeral directors proved
their ability time and time again to swiftly adapt as they
worked tirelessly to serve their communities by finding
new ways to help families meaningfully pay tribute to their
loved ones. Whether families are looking to organize a
traditional religious funeral or a more customized memorial,
it can be difficult to know where to start. Answering questions
at all stages of planning, Remembering A Life (www.RememberingALife. com), NFDA’s family outreach and education website, offers guidance on where to begin the planning process, the kinds of decisions that families can make and the numerous options available to make a tribute both personal and meaningful. The site is designed to help people curious about their own affairs or those seeking answers following the death of a loved one.

For more information, please contact 800-228-6332 or
visit https://www.nfda.org/.

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