Navigating the Eldercare Journey: Without Going Broke
by Jodi Clock
Tell
Me: Why Do You Choose a Funeral Home?
BY
JODI CLOCK, NAVIGATING THE ELDER CARE JOURNEY…WITHOUT GOING BROKE!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION WITH JODI AT JODICLOCK.COM.
Readers
-- this is a call for action, if you will.
As a funeral
professional I am asking for your thoughts, feedback or
recommendations for continuous improvement. We don’t know, if we
don’t ask. As I sit here at my computer I find myself very
perplexed. Most everyday, when I sit down at my desk to begin my day,
I check my email. (This task in itself at times can take literally
all day!) Like many of you, I have set “Google Alerts” to crawl
the web and place key topics that I follow in my in box. This
morning’s mailbox is unusually loaded with people who are
frustrated with funerals, wedding planners who are attempting to add
funeral planning to their expertise and entrepreneurs who have a new
concept to send their loved one off in style. After reading each of
the alerts, I find myself asking the obvious – why?
The
next few paragraphs will contain random thoughts, observations and
questions. As you read this article, please take a moment to reflect
and respond either openly in the comment section at my blog here,
email jodi@clockfuneralhome.com.
Why
do people choose a funeral home?
Past history has told us, because that’s where their family always
went. Today, this simply is not the case. Location used to be a
primary factor. To some degree, I believe it still is. However,
funeral homes, much like hospitals are a destination, typically not a
place of convenience. Is price the determining factor? If price is
strictly the case that begs some important questions that need to be
both addressed and understood.
(Please understand that there is no wrong answer.)
1.
If price is truly the issue and there is no money, our funeral home
offers a “no cost” cremation solution. We are the only funeral
home in Muskegon County that offers this. The caveat is that the
deceased must not be an IV drug user, have AIDS or any other
contagious disease. The deceased also must have be found and
pronounced death within 24 hours so the proper protocols can be
taken. The family receives one death certificate. All transportation
fees and professional services are of zero cost to the family.
Anything above any beyond this, the family must pay for.
2.
Do families feel that funeral homes are a rip off based on all the
media hype? Probably to some degree. It only takes one disreputable
funeral professional to place a stigma on what we do, to ruin it for
those who operate an above board business. All industries have their
“black sheep,” however, because we are in the death care
profession, things are sensationalized.
Here’s
a fact you should know.
The funeral profession as a whole is highly regulated. Our profession
has to uphold to numerous standards that are set by the Federal Trade
Commission, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Music
Licensing and Regulation, audits for pre-planned funerals, not to
mention all the necessary insurance coverage and much more.
It’s
fair to say that as recent as 15 to 20 years ago, funeral
professionals made a comfortable living with an above average income.
Today (2013) this is not case. Nobody, let me repeat nobody who is in
this profession is getting rich. Not the casket suppliers, urn
suppliers, the vault suppliers, cemeteries or the crematories. In
fact, many companies have consolidated or gone out of business.
Everyone who is in this business -- not just where I live, across the
country -- are literally making just enough to cover their overhead,
their employees’ payroll and benefits, with just enough left over
to reinvest back into their business for improvements.
The
real question should be, at what at point does a business stop
operating with a fair profit margin and operate in the red in hopes
that volume will make up the difference?
Translation, a business can lower their price and create a price war,
but is it worth the cost of going out of business? If a funeral home
wants to operate on the “Wal-Mart” volume based method, their
must be enough of the general population in the community they live
in that is there is an abundance of individuals whose mortality is
limited. Unlike Wal-Mart, funeral homes can’t dictate to their
venders what price they are going to pay for their merchandise,
insurance, vehicles and utilities. We have the same price increases
as everyone else.
Muskegon
seems to be segregated by choice, meaning that 98% of all African
Americans patronage a funeral home that is owned and operated by
African Americans. This frustrates me. I’m not sure how this norm
can be changed.
Religion
-- one could argue either side of that decision.
In my opinion only, over time I think this norm will be less
prevalent. Why? The baby boomer as a generation has a large segment
that is non-churched. Take note, I did not say “un-religious.” A
large sector of boomers tend to outwardly say they are spiritual and
have their own personal relationship with God. Many people have
prayer groups at their home and consider that their church.
Conversely, those persons who actively participate in a church don’t
want to have their services held at a funeral home.
Why
is that? In fact, to be quite candid, many churches across the
country have taken on the role of a “funeral home” and handle
everything but the “dead” aspect. Some pastors tell us that they
would prefer the funeral home be involved, others have actually hired
people to assist with all the behind the scene action that is
cumbersome.
Most
families will honor their loved ones request by calling the funeral
home that the individual wanted to go too. If the deceased had
pre-arranged or prefunded their funeral 99% of the time, the
survivors honor that decision.
Just
for educational purposes,
if a funeral plan is pre-arranged and even funded, the survivors do
have the option to move that contract to another funeral home of
choice. The consequence is that the guaranteed portion of the
contract in terms of price is no longer valid. The value of the
policy, meaning the amount of cash that the contract has grown to, is
what the family has to pay or put towards a funeral. Pre-paid
funerals legally must be 100% transportable within the United States,
and many are also accepted in Canada or Puerto Rico.
In
closing, I’m asking you to tell me your perspective on why people
don’t want what funeral homes have to offer.
I understand it’s not an expense that is tangible like a car or
even a piece of jewelry. It can be an experience, and a memorable
one, if you allow us to do what we do or share with us what you want.
Funerals don’t have to be men in dark suits directing people. In
fact, our funeral home employs more women then men.
Funerals
can be festive. Stories can be shared. Any kind of music can be
played. People can have that “pig roast,” motorcycle gathering,
Irish wake or even a firecracker send off, they just need to ask. If
it’s legal, within reason and you have the funds to pay for the
necessary items – it can be done. The difference between what we do
and what a wedding planner does, is we make it happen typically in 24
hours or within five days. While wedding planners have months, if not
a year.
Today,
many individuals have had one if not two wedding for themselves.
There are no second or even third funerals for an individual. We only
get one chance – why not let use help you make it one that is not a
cookie cutter, fits your style and your finances. Please – talk to
me!
What
are your thoughts? I'd love for you to continue this dialogue with
me! Please share your thoughts at jodi@clockfuneralhome.com,
Facebook, or my blog.
Visit
one of Clock Life Story Funeral Homes' three locations at 1469 Peck
St. in Muskegon, (231) 722-3721; 16777 Lincoln in Grand Haven, (616)
844-4200; or 3592 Pontaluna Rd. in Fruitport, (231) 865 6151. The
clockfuneralhome.com website contains useful information about
services, planning, Life Story products, and more. Information about
sister company Clock Timeless Pets is at facebook.com/timelesspets.
To purchase Navigating the Elder Care Journey…Without Going Broke!
by Jodi Clock, go to Amazon.com.
About The Author:
For
over 25 years, Jodi M. Clock has worked in the ‘end-of-life
planning’ industry, including family and corporately owned funeral
homes, advance funeral planning companies, casket manufacturers and
insurance agencies. Having personally witnessed the financial
confusion that families endure, especially at an emotionally taxing
time, Ms. Clock has centered her career on helping people to
understand the options that are available to them. She currently
writes and speaks about the basics of Medicaid and asset protection
and is a seasoned expert in end-of-life directives.
Ms. Clock wrote
Navigating the Elder Care Journey...Without Going Broke! to help
people appreciate the important facts they need to know in order to
make the right financial choices, in one easy-to- understand guide.
It is her hope that through the personal stories, straightforward
information, and family care plans which include checklists, she will
help people manage this process. Her goal is for everyone to become
informed on options available that will not leave their hard-earned
assets unnecessarily exposed, potentially saving them hundreds if not
thousands of dollars; qualify for Medicaid; and have their funeral
expenses pre-paid, therefore allowing their loved ones the ability to
focus on what’s important and not have anxiety or stress over
finances.
When she’s not consulting or helping manage the family funeral business, she volunteers with The Noah Project, a no kill animal shelter. An avid animal lover and supporter, she has a house full of pets and enjoys spending time on the western Michigan shoreline.
Website | Facebook | Book Facebook | Twitter | Linkedin
Genre: Non-Fiction / Aging Parents/ End of Life/ Eldercare / Financial Planning
Publisher:
Windy
City Publishers
Release
Date: April
26, 2013
Book
Description:
“I don’t feel old. I don’t feel anything until noon.
That’s when it’s time for my nap.”
Bob Hope
Navigating the Eldercare Journey – Without Going Broke! can help reduce the challenges and minimize frustration encountered when you are placed in this situation. This easy-to-understand guide takes you from the basics of understanding long term care options that are available, how to seek out an elder care attorney and know if they are good fit for your needs, and how to qualify for Medicaid as a financial means to pay for care, including the benefits of funeral planning - in layman’s terms. Author Jodi M. Clock provides fundamental information regarding the basics in a way that helps you understand not only why her recommendations are important, but how you can minimize financial exposure regarding end-of-life events. Whether you are in a crisis situation or taking proactive measures, these valuable end-of-life solutions could safeguard you and your parents’ assets.
You have a choice – be proactive and preserve your money. Don’t leave it unprotected and unnecessarily taxed when you or your parents die. No matter how prepared you think you are, the reality of death is sobering, and expensive. When time is on your side, you can make well- thought-out, proactive decisions, enabling you to focus on what’s most important in life.
________________________
Praise for Navigating the Eldercare Journey:Without Going Broke!~
"Absolutely Essential Reading!" ~AuctionHugh, Amazon Reviewer
"This book was insightful and educational. The layout of the book (especially the key points) allows you to easily scan pages if you don't need to read the entire chapter."~Laura, Amazon Reviewer
"Everyone should have a copy of this book in their home. An easy read, but full of useful information. It relieved a lot of the stress I felt about this topic." ~Bill Sangster, Amazon Reviewer
________________________
Excerpt
One:
The Emergence of Medicaid
Planning
Medicaid planning is a new concept and is probably somewhat
of a mystery unless it has impacted you or someone you love directly.
Quite possibly, “You
don’t know what you don’t know”.
Receiving Medicaid assistance to pay for endof-life care is based
primarily on net worth and income. Your financial assets cannot
exceed a certain amount. If they do, you will be required to pay for
your care privately until your assets are depleted to the point at
which you do qualify. This often causes individuals to enter into a
“spend down” cycle that depletes their personal nest eggs. With
good planning, however, you can properly position and reallocate your
assets to preserve your nest egg and also qualify for Medicaid.
Up until the last 20
years or so the need to reposition assets (i.e., to have all of the
individual’s assets owned by a living trust) to qualify for
Medicaid assistance didn’t exist. Why? The average life expectancy
was not as long as it is today. In our parent’s generation, someone
living to age 80 was equivalent to someone today living to be 90 or
even 100 years old. Over the next 25 years, as the baby boomer
generation begins to age, the number of people who will be in need of
this type of planning will be tremendous. Organization is essential!
The criterion for
Medicaid is specific, and if you need help understanding it, there
are resources available. Don’t let the process be intimidating!
2 comments:
This sounds like a must read book. Lets face it, us baby boomers are getting old.
Loved the giveaway!
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