Klicker- Chapter 22

Question 1

What outside factors influence funeral service?

Answer 1

• Economy
• Social Trends
• Demographics
• Government Regulations

Question 2

Life Expectancy

Answer 2

• Will continue to increase at a slightly slower pace than over the past 200 years
• There are 13 million Americans over age 65 and by 2050 the number will increase to over 80 million
• Seniors over 85 are the fastest growing segment of the “over 65” population.

Question 3

Population Growth

Answer 3

• Increasing rapidly
• The increase is minority citizens and immigrants from other countries (including illegal immigrants)
• The sunbelt states will continue to see the largest increase.

Question 4

Family

Answer 4

• The average age for first marriages has risen: 27 for men and 25 for women
• Presently an average of 2 children per family-this will slowly decrease.
• The number of people living together as a family household will increase but the number of married couple households will decrease.
• The number of people living alone will increase
• The number of 2 parent families will decrease
• 50% of first marriages fail-will stay the same
• More families will continue to move- major move every 3-5 years

Question 5

The Reconstituted Family

Answer 5

This is a combination of brothers and sisters, stepbrothers and stepsisters, and natural parents and stepparents. Children have one or more stepparents along with natural parents.

Question 6

Blended Families

Answer 6

The bringing together of interracial, intercultural, and inter-religious unions will increase in the years ahead.

Question 7

Chosen Famillies

Answer 7

Those in which single people, siblings, friends, or lovers choose to live together. This change came about because of the increase in single people and will continue to grow.

Question 8

Religion

Answer 8

• Attendance at organized religious ceremonies is declining.
• Increase of people who describe themselves as “spiritual”
• The number of non-religious funeral will increase.

Question 9

Alternative Dispositions

Answer 9

• There will continue to be an increase in cremation and direct dispositions
• Decrease in the use of caskets and vaults and an increase in urns and cremation containers

Question 10

Government Regulation

Answer 10

-This will continue to increase especially in areas of PN, crematory operations, organ and tissue donation, EPA, and ADA.

Question 11

Consumer Education

Answer 11

• Will continue to increase in all areas

- The internet has had a major contribution

Question 12

Computerization

Answer 12

-Although computerization is still in its infancy, small computers can handle a staggering amount of complex functions.

Question 13

Number of Funeral Home Acquisitions

Answer 13

The last decade’s downward trend in the number of funeral homes will continue as small operators sell or close due to economics.

• Competitors would most likely buy businesses because large corporations are not interested in purchasing small firms.
• New owners are merging more and absorbing their business to take advantage of economics of scale.

Question 14

Building

Answer 14

New funeral homes are being built to conserve energy. In areas where there is less and smaller visitation, the structures are smaller, with smaller visitation rooms, small casket display rooms, and the addition of rooms that can be used for catering and receptions.

Question 15

Hiring

Answer 15

More women are entering this field and be hired. There are also older second careerists entering funeral service and funeral homes are improving compensation packages to improve retention. The total number of people entering the profession is decreasing which is driving these changes.

Question 16

Livery

Answer 16

Less limousines are being used and more alternative vehicles are being purchased instead of hearses.

Question 17

Finances

Answer 17

• More funeral homes are requiring people to pay for the funeral at the time of the arrangements.
• Less funeral directors are waiting for payment until estates are settled.
• The use of credit cards is increasing
• More funeral homes are increasing the charges for services and decreasing costs of caskets

Question 18

Pre-Need

Answer 18

• This will continue to increase

- Guaranteeing the cost of funerals will decrease (Inflation is rising faster and funeral homes are losing money)

Question 19

Marketing

Answer 19

• Funeral homes will become more conscience about how their advertising dollars are being spent.
• They will spend less on traditional advertising options(calendars, church bulletins, and give aways)

Question 20

Education

Answer 20

Entry level education requirements will remain constant

• Increasing the requirement to a Bachelor of Science degree is being researched.
• Continuing education is required in more than 34 states

Question 21

Aftercare

Answer 21

• This trend is growing, but at a slow pace
• Aftercare programs will increase
• More funeral homes will add space and products to make their funeral home more of a resource center.

Question 22

Funeralization

Answer 22

• How people dispose of their dead will continue to change.
• Funeral ceremonies have been downsizing for many years and it will continue
• More personalized funerals is increasing
• Casket stores, large retailers selling caskets and Internet sales of caskets is steady right now.
• Present casket stores owned by funeral homes will slowly decrease.
• There will be an increase in cemeteries selling funeral merchandise.
• Funeral homes will build crematories as cremation increases.

Question 23

Baby Boomers

Answer 23

• People born after WWII
• The best-educated, most affluent, and healthiest generation in history and will work longer than their ancestors.
• Children of the 1960’s
• They will be called on more to care for their elderly parents and relatives.
• “Sandwich generation” meaning they have careers while taking care of both their parents and children.

Question 24

With regard to funeral service, studies have shown that baby boomers:

Answer 24

• have casket aversion
• are uncomfortable in the casket selection room
• have not attended many funerals
• are not familiar with making arrangements
• do not have church ties as strong as their parents
• do not have strong ties to funeral homes
• like to think in terms of celebration of life

Question 25

Buying habits of baby boomers:

Answer 25

They will not opt for low cost alternatives for themselves or loved ones

Question 26

Baby Boomer Values

Answer 26

-They will challenge the value of our practices and standardization

Question 27

The best way to attract baby boomers:

Answer 27

Market differently than the standard newspapers, radio, bulletins, etc.

Question 28

How to successfully market to baby boomers:

Answer 28

- Consumer Fairs - Open Houses - Seminars - Direct Mail - Exhibits - Cable TV Programs - TV ads