• Your local and/or state public health officials may be making recommendations for the care of decedents and/or public gatherings that are more stringent than what the CDC and federal government have recommended. In these cases, you should defer to your state and/or local public health officials.
• The CDC has advised if you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and/or develop a fever and symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider for medical advice. If you are concerned about a potential exposure, this risk assessment for healthcare personnel (HCP) from the CDC may be useful.

Speaking with Families About an After-Pandemic Memorial Service

As the world slowly emerges from the pandemic, grief still demands to be witnessed. As part of your funeral home’s aftercare outreach to families, you may face tough questions around whether or not having a memorial service for a loved one who passed without a gathering is a good idea. These talking points should be used as a guide when responding in your own words as you consult with each family.

Grieving Alone and Together: Responding to the Loss of Your Loved One during the COVID-19 Pandemic by Sara Murphy, PhD, CT, with a foreword by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D.

The Funeral Service Foundation, through its COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund has funded the creation of a booklet that addresses the challenges of grieving the death of a loved one during the COVID-19 pandemic. Grieving Alone and Together: Responding to the Loss of Your Loved One during the COVID-19 Pandemic by Sara Murphy, PhD, CT, with a foreword by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D., is available for free to anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one or who would like to learn how they can support those who have. 

Learn more and get free copies for your community. 

News Release Template

If you wish to share information with your community discussing funerals for confirmed/suspected cases of COVID-19 and the steps you are taking to keep families, guests and others safe, NFDA has prepared a news release template – download it here. You can customize this news release with specific information about your funeral home and the steps it is taking during this unprecedented time. The text in this news release can also be adapted for use as a message on your funeral home’s website or social media platforms.

Key Messages - Conveying the Value of Funerals

Whether you are speaking with the media during an interview or a family during an arrangement conference, conveying the value of memorialization - even during these difficult times when families aren't able to have the funeral they want - is critical. Grief expert Dr. Alan Wolfelt has developed some key messages that you can convey to reinforce the value of funerals. 

• 8 Talking Points for Funeral Directors, Crematory Staff, Cemeterians, and Other Death-Care Workers
• Brochure: Why We Have Had Funerals Since the Beginning of Time

NFDA has developed a sign/placard you can customize with your funeral home logo and post in your facility. This sign describes the steps your firm is taking to keep the public safe and steps guests can take to remain safe during a visitation or funeral. Download it here.

The CDC has excellent flyers/posters you can post in your funeral home about COVID-19 and healthy habits they should follow during the pandemic. 

Have a Facebook account? Show your pride in being a #LastResponder! Add our new frame to your Facebook profile picture.

• CDC: Funeral Guidance for Individuals and Families
• CDC: Frequently Asked Questions: Funeral and Burial Services for American Indians and Alaska Natives
• From Sesame Workshop (the creators of Sesame Street): Caring for Each Other, an initiative to support families through the COVID-19 crisis. Find additional resources on their Health Emergencies page. 
• What's Going On, a digital book by Clare Shaw to help children understand the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• Article by Dan Katz, L.A. Ads: Positioning Your Funeral or Cemetery Business In The Age of COVID-19