January 2002
The Director - Features
After the Funeral
An externally administered aftercare program can enable you to continue caring for families without burdening your firm's resources
"Aftercare" means providing information, support and reassurance to families after the death of a loved one. It is a tradition of caring that many funeral homes have provided through generations of service. The challenge of continuing to help families given the many changes, regulations, expectations and detail in today's funeral service profession has led many funeral directors to conclude that a professional aftercare program is the answer.
After the Funeral explains how an externally administered aftercare program can enable funeral directors to meet the expectations of care without adding to the demands made on the time and energy of the firm's staff. The article also lists the components of a good aftercare program.
Judith Koeppl, director of The San Damiano Center for Life & Loss Integration in Madison, Wisconsin, wrote the article. She is an aftercare specialist and consultant to funeral homes, and is a field faculty member of Vermont College in Grief Counseling. She is the author of "Pathways Through Grief" Aftercare Program.
