| Q & A on Death, Grief & Funeral Services |
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| Are funeral homes regulated? |
| All funeral home activities are regulated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – Funeral Rule. – "The Funeral Rule" requires the industry to provide information and disclosures that help consumers when shopping and when purchasing funeral goods and services. |
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| What is the FTC-Funeral Rule? |
| The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – Funeral Rule has been implemented by the United States government to help consumers to make more informed decisions about funeral home goods and services. All funeral homes must follow the guidelines of the FTC-Funeral Rule. |
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| What is an Outer Burial Container Price List? |
Funeral homes are required by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – Funeral Rule to provide three price lists: The General Price List, The Casket Price List, and the Outer Burial Container Price list.
The Outer Burial Container Price List must include the name of the funeral provider, the effective date for the list, and the retail prices of each outer burial container. The list must also give enough descriptive information about each outer burial container to enable consumers to identify the specific container.
Click here for Hamilton’s Outer Burial Price List |
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| What is a Casket Price List? |
Funeral homes are required by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – Funeral Rule to provide three price lists: The General Price List, The Casket Price List, and the Outer Burial Container Price list.
The Casket Price List must include the name of the funeral home, the effective date for the list, and the retail price of each casket and alternative container. The list must also give enough descriptive information about each casket to enable consumers to identify the specific casket and understand what they are buying.
Click here for Hamilton’s Casket Price List |
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| What is the Statement of Funeral Goods and Services Selected? |
| This "statement" is an itemized list of the goods and services that the consumer has selected during the arrangement conference and must be given to each consumer at the end of the arrangement discussion. |
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| What information can I get from a funeral home over the telephone? |
| The funeral home must give accurate information from the General Price List, Casket Price List, and Outer Burial Container Price List. They must also answer any other question about their offerings and prices. Funeral homes cannot require callers to give their names, addresses, or phone numbers, and they cannot require consumers to come to the funeral home in person to get price information. |
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| Which items of service can I always see in order to comparison shop? |
The Funeral Rule requires funeral home to itemize sixteen specific itemized items. The following itemized service and product items can be compared with any funeral home you choose.
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HAMILTON'S FEES |
| 1. |
Forwarding of remains to another funeral home |
$841 |
| 2. |
Receiving remains from another funeral home |
$613 |
| 3. |
Transfer of remains to the funeral home |
$149 |
| 4. |
Direct cremation |
$1383 to $1933 |
| 5. |
Immediate burial |
$1272 to $1767 |
| 6. |
Embalming |
$450 |
| 7. |
Other preparation of the body |
$110 |
| 8. |
Hearse |
$149 |
| 9. |
Limousine |
$69 |
| 10. |
Use of facility and staff for viewing |
$380 |
| 11. |
Use of facility and staff for funeral
ceremony |
$395 |
| 12. |
Use of facility and staff for memorial service |
$395 |
| 13. |
Use of equipment and staff for graveside ceremony |
$99 |
| 14. |
Individual casket prices or their price range |
$495 to $9800 |
| 15. |
Individual outer burial container prices or their range |
$680 to $3490 |
| 16. |
Basic services of funeral director and staff, and overhead |
$1440 |
Click
here for Hamilton’s complete General Price List |
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| Does the law require vaults or grave liners? |
In most areas of the country, state or local law does not require that you buy a container to surround the casket in the grave. However, many cemeteries require that you have such a container so that the grave will not sink in. Either a grave liner or a burial vault will satisfy these requirements.
Click here for Hamilton's Outer Burial Container Price List |
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| Is a casket required for cremation? |
If you want to arrange a direct cremation, you can use an alternative container. Alternative containers encase the body and can be made of materials like fiberboard or composition materials (with or without an outside covering).
Alternative containers and caskets that are made specificallyfor cremation are included and identified in Hamilton's Casket Price List.
Click here for Hamilton's Casket Price List |
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| What does a funeral cost? |
Three expenses normally occur at the time of death.
1. Services - performed by Hamilton's
2. Products - funeral/burial products purchased from Hamilton's
3. Accommodation - possible fees from other places
Click here for a worksheet to use as a guide |
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| What is Cremation? |
Cremating a deceased requires written permission by the person responsible for the disposition. Also, a Cremation Permit is required to be signed by a county Medical Examiner who has authority over all cremations.
Some survivors decide to be present during the cremation. They feel it is much the same as being present the cemetery for ground burial. Our crematory is conveniently located with comfortable surroundings. You are welcome to be present during all or part of the cremation.
Cremation is performed to prepare the deceased for memorialization and/or disposition. It is carried out by placing the deceased into a casket or alternative container and then placing the body into a cremation chamber, where the body is subjected to intense heat and flame. Each deceased is cremated individually. After about two and a half hours, all substances are consumed or driven off except bone fragments, residue from the container the deceased was cremated in, and any metal or other non-combustible material. Following a cooling period, the cremated remains are then swept from the cremation chamber. Unless otherwise specified, the cremated remains are then mechanically processed into a powder-like form prior to placement into the designated urn.
When visitation and /or a service has been scheduled prior to cremation, some prefer the design and ornamentation of traditional caskets. Caskets for cremation are crafted with the same quality and care as traditional caskets, but are simpler in design, made from different materials, and are typically less expensive than traditional caskets.
Many people decide to place the cremated remains into an urn. You can purchase the urn of your choice at our funeral home. There are many options for personalizing cremation urns, such as: engraving the name of the deceased, a photograph, special artwork which you select, or the addition of an applique. Also, urn vaults are often chosen to protect the urn when it is buried in the ground.
After the actual cremation, you must decide what to do with the cremated remains. Your options are: burial, scattering, or you can personally keep the cremated remains. When you choose disposition at a cemetery, it is important to coordinate the committal so that the grave opening, tent, chairs, and any other equipment that may be needed are available.
Click here to view Hamilton's Cremation Service Options |
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| What is a vault for and what does it cost? |
A vault is not required by law. However, with a burial service, cemeteries normally require a burial receptacle for the casket to go into so that the grave will not sink. This receptacle can be a vault that seals to prevent the entrance of air or moisture or a grave liner that does not seal.
Vaults are constructed of concrete or galvanized steel. Concrete vaults may have bronze, copper, stainless steel, fiberglass or plastic liners.
• Price for nonsealing grave liners is $680
• Prices for sealing vaults range from $880 to $3,490
Click here for Hamilton's Outer Burial Container Price List |
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| What does a casket cost? |
When someone dies, final disposition can take the form of burial, cremation, or donation to a medical facility. In these instances, families often choose to have a service before disposition takes place.
Caskets are always used when the disposition is burial and are sometimes used when cremation is chosen.
Caskets are made from either metal (usually bronze, copper or steel), hardwood or pressed wood covered with cloth. Some metal caskets seal to prevent the entrance of air or moisture. Caskets built expressly for cremation are made with no metal parts to facilitate the actual cremation. Casket rental is also an option.
• Caskets at Hamilton's range in price from $495.00 to $9,980.00
Click here for Hamilton's Casket Price List |
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| What is advanced planning? |
The process of setting out one's wishes and instructions to be followed at the time of death is called "Preplanning."
There are two areas to consider when determining the type of final arrangements you desire: the type of service and the disposition.
Decisions about the service are a very personal part of preplanning. Recognizing one's life can be done publicly or privately, with or without the presence of the deceased.
Final disposition can take the form of burial, cremation, or donation to a medical facility. Hamilton's will guide you through the planning and at the time of death will carry out the details of the disposition, wherever it takes place.
In its simplest form, preplanning is having one's wishes recorded by a local funeral home. There is no charge for this non-funded agreement at Hamilton's.
If you decide to pre-pay your preplanning arrangements, you can do so through a bank trust or through funeral insurance funding. All of our funding options meet the guidelines of Iowa law and also meet Title 19 eligibility criteria. Prearrangement burial contracts may be guaranteed cost, or non-guaranteed cost, and you may pay the full amount or set up a payment schedule.
Someone should know what your wishes and instructions are for the time of your death. For more detailed information about advanced planning CLICK HERE or contact Scott Eriksen or Claudia Miranda at (515) 243-5221. |
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| What is the cost for Burial Services? |
Costs for Burial Service options range from $380.00 to $3292.00 PLUS the cost of a casket, vault or grave liner and cemetery expense. Hamilton's Burial Funeral Service packages include:
Complete Funeral Service: This service takes the form of embalming, visitation, funeral rites, and committal ceremonies $3292.
Limited Same-day Visitation & Service: This service takes the form of embalming, followed by visitation and funeral rites on the same day $2617.
Graveside Service: This service takes the form of embalming, then a graveside service and committal $2332.
Immediate Burial: This service takes the form of immediate burial with no visitation or funeral rites and ranges from $1215 - $1710 depending on options chosen.
Memorial Service: This service takes the form of Hamilton’s providing a commemorative service only $380.
Click
here for Hamilton’s complete General Price List |
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| What is the cost for Cremation Service? |
Costs for Cremation Service options range from $380.00 to $3291.00 PLUS the cost of a cremation container or casket. Hamilton's Cremation Service options include:
Public Visitation and Service: This service takes the form of embalming, visitation, funeral rites, with cremation following $3291
Visitation only with cremation: This service takes the form of embalming, visitation, with cremation following the visitation $2528.
Direct Cremation with a Memorial Service: This service takes the form of immediate cremation with a commemorative service following $1852.
Direct Cremation: This service takes the form of an immediate cremation with no visitation and no funeral rites and ranges from $1310 - $1892 depending on options chosen.
Memorial Service: This service takes the form of Hamilton’s providing a commemorative service only $380.
Click
here for Hamilton’s complete General Price List |
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| What is Hamilton’s Academy of Grief and Loss? |
Hamilton’s Academy offers to our community…
• Grief Information and Resources
• Grief-Related Education
• Grief-Recovery Services
Library: An integral part of the Academy is our lending library which houses an extensive collection of books, periodicals, brochures and videos, for all ages, pertaining to grief and loss issues. The library is open every day, and materials may be checked out for a two week period.
Resource Center: In addition, the Academy composes and keeps updated for our community a detailed listing of current grief and support resources available in the Des Moines area, as well as across the state. This includes support groups, counseling services and other available resources for persons of all ages.
Referral Network: professional referral network offers expertise regarding banking issues, wills, estate settlement, and legal issues. These services are free and confidential.
Seminars: The Academy is very involved in giving seminars throughout the community regarding death and grief issues. Such topics might include: Understanding Grief, Children’s Grief and Loss Issues, the Value of Preplanning, and Coping with Grief.
Tours: In addition the academy provides tours at any of our funeral home and crematory facilities for all types of groups and ages.
Childrens Grief Services: The Academy offers short-term grief programs especially for children. Healing Hearts is for children in grades one through six; Little Hands is for children ages three to six. These programs give children a chance to interact with others their own age who have experienced the death of someone loved. We use are, music, games and stories to help children understand death and their own unique feelings which accompany their grief.
First viewing support is available to families who wish to have a grief support person present for their child or children at the time of the family’s first viewing at the funeral home.
Counseling: Also one-on-one counseling is available for children and teens ages three and up. An initial grief assessment meeting takes place at no charge.
Crisis Debriefing Services: Academy staff is available to anyone who has experienced grief-related crisis or trauma, whether it is personal, in a workplace or school setting.
Symposiums: Several times yearly, the Academy offers Hamilton’s Family Services Symposium. During the Symposium, speakers address the topic: “Coping With Grief,” offering practical suggestions to adults who have experienced a death. Representatives from community grief support organizations are also available to offer information about the services they provide. Each program concludes with a memorial candlelighting ceremony. |
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| I am hurting...where can I find help? |
Death and grief are common human experiences, yet these experiences tend to be different for every individual. As a result, there are no words that can adequately describe what a survivor goes through when grieving the loss of someone loved. You may be wrestling with several emotions -- extreme sadness, loss, loneliness, guilt, anger -- and wondering how in the world you can keep going. You may find that it is impacting every aspect of your life - emotionally, psychologically, physically, behaviorally, and spiritually.
We want you to be aware of several things that Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss has available to you as you work through your grief. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HAMILTON'S ACADEMY OF GRIEF & LOSS. |
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| How do I explain death to a child? |
by Sasha J. Mudlaff, M.A.
Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss
A child's understanding of death will vary based upon two main factors: their level of development and their prior experience with death. The very young child (2-4 years) has a limited concept of what death is. However, this does not mean they are not affected in a very real way by the death of someone loved. A child of this age will certainly be aware that the person is missing. He or she may ask about the person over and over again. It is best to use the word "dead" when answering. For example: "Grandma is dead, honey. She can never come back." Even though the child may not yet fully understand what "dead" means, he or she will begin to differentiate it from such things as "bye-bye," "sleeping," or "gone." These are words that, when used in place of the word dead, can confuse the child. Instead, one should use simple, direct language when explaining: "Dead means the body stops working – Grandma can't talk, walk, feel, or breathe anymore. The part of grandma that we loved and that made her special is gone; all that is left is her body."
By ages 5 or 6 to age 9, children begin to have a more mature understanding of death, however that understanding may not be consistent in all instances. The child may on one hand seem to grasp that physical functions cease at death, but then ask, "How will grandma be able to breathe when she is buried in the ground?" The child will have many, many questions, all of which should be answered as honestly as possible. They may ask the same questions over and over again; having them answered over and over again will only help them to understand more and more. The child may have the fear that someone else close to them is going to die next. Children of this age should be reassured that there will always be someone to take care of them.
By age 9 or 10, most children have a pretty mature understanding of death. Again it is important to answer their questions as honestly as possible, and not to avoid talking about the death. Sometimes adults don't want to talk about the death in order to insulate the child from "unnecessary" pain and sadness, or may possibly believe that the child "just wouldn't understand anyway." The reality is, whether it's talked about or not, the child will grieve, no matter what! Grief is a normal and natural response to loss no matter what our age. As children's grief expert Dr. Alan Wolfelt states so beautifully, "If a child can love, a child can grieve."
When someone loved dies, it is important to remember that a child's reactions may not be obvious or immediate. If he or she goes outside to play right away after learning about the death, that's okay! It doesn't necessarily mean the child doesn't care or doesn't comprehend – the child is just being a child. If possible, try to stick to the child's normal routine – especially if the person who died was close to the child (a parent or sibling, for example). Continuity provides the child with a sense of security and stability during a time full of uncertainty. And most importantly, having an understanding, supportive adult who is available to answer questions and provide comfort and reassurance, will only help the child to successfully move forward in his or her grieving process.
We want you to be aware of several things that Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss has available for grieving children. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HAMILTON'S ACADEMY OF GRIEF & LOSS. |
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| Should children attend funerals? |
by Sasha J. Mudlaff, M.A.
Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss
It is very important that children not be left out of the family grieving process. This could include involvement in the arrangements, viewing and/or funeral service of the person who has died. Although a child may not completely understand the ceremony surrounding the death, being involved helps the child to establish a sense of comfort and the understanding that life goes on even though someone loved has died. Not allowing a child to participate isolates the child from the rest of the family, perhaps even hindering his or her grieving process. On the same token, a child should never be forced to participate. Explain to them what will happen at the visitation and funeral and allow them to make their own decision about whether or not to attend.
If the body will be viewed at the visitation and/or funeral, let the child know this ahead of time. Explain what the casket and body will look like. If cremation has or will be taking place, explain what cremation means and what will happen to the cremated remains*. Reinforce to the child that because the person is dead, they cannot feel anything during the cremation process. It is also a good idea to let the child know that at the visitation/funeral there will be people showing many emotions; some people may cry and others may not show their feelings at all. It is important to remember that children need to see the adults in their lives expressing their grief. This gives the child "permission" to grieve as well.
Many parents are concerned about the possibility of their child acting up or disturbing others during the funeral service. Explain that there are acceptable and unacceptable ways to behave at funerals and talk about it with the child. If this is still a concern, perhaps taking the child to the funeral home for the family visitation, usually a less formal time, is more appropriate. This gives them more of an opportunity to ask questions and have them answered as well. It is always a good idea to designate a trusted friend or family member to be "in charge" of the children while the family is at the funeral home. This person can then not only keep an eye on the children's whereabouts, but also be available to answer questions. This relieves the parents of such responsibility at a time when they may need to focus on their own grief reactions.
Give the child the option to do something special such as draw a picture or write a letter to the person who has died to be placed in the casket before, during, or after the funeral service. Or perhaps the child would like to select a favorite photograph of themselves to have on display or to place in the casket.
Children's grief expert, Dr. Alan Wolfelt says: "The funeral, a ritual that has been with us since the beginning of time, is here to help us embrace the life that was lived and support each other as we go forward. As caring adults, we will service our children well to introduce them to the value of coming together when someone we love dies."
We want you to be aware of several things that Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss has available for grieving children. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HAMILTON'S ACADEMY OF GRIEF & LOSS. |
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| How do I explain cremation to a child? |
by Sasha J. Mudlaff, M.A.
Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss
The concept of cremation may be scary for some children. They may have heard adults use words such as "oven" and "burn", or may picture in their minds that cremation is like setting the person's body on fire. It is important to use simple, concrete language, and avoid using words that may frighten children when talking about cremation.
First, it is important to emphasize that when someone dies, what's left is just their body -- the part of the person that made them special is no longer there. They cannot see, hear, think, talk, breathe, or FEEL anything anymore. After someone dies, the family calls the funeral home to help them care for the body. There are three ways to care for the body after a person dies: burial, cremation, or donation to a medical school for learning or research. Whether the body is buried or cremated, the end result is the same: the body reduces to "ashes" or cremated remains.
Here is a suggestion of how to explain the cremation process to a child:
The person's body is placed into a special box and then into a room (or chamber), called a crematory, where it gets very, very hot. The heat helps to change the person's body into ashes (or cremated remains) very quickly. It usually takes about 2 to 3 hours. [When a person's body is buried, it takes many, many years for the body to change to ashes.] After the cremation is finished, all that is left are pieces of the bones. There are tiny pieces as well as large pieces. The bone pieces are then placed into a special machine called a processor, which breaks up the bones until they are like powder. The powder is gray in color. The cremated remains are then placed into a container or urn that the family has chosen to use. The cremated remains of an adult weigh about 6 to 8 pounds. The cremated remains of a baby weigh just a few ounces. Sometimes the family keeps the cremated remains at their house in a pretty container, or they might bury them in a cemetery. Sometimes the cremated remains are sprinkled or scattered in an outdoor place that is special to the family or to the person who died.
We want you to be aware of several things that Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss has available for grieving children. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HAMILTON'S ACADEMY OF GRIEF & LOSS. |
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