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Funeral Attendence, Covid 19 update 150 150 Editor

Funeral Attendence, Covid 19 update

What has changed

We know people want to attend funerals, and there have been some terribly sad times in the last few months.  Things are beginning to change, so we at J Funerals wanted to give you a brief outline of these changes,

This guidance has been updated in line with the Health Protection Regulations 2020.

Changes include:

  • allowing both family and friends to attend a funeral
  • the number of people who can attend a funeral
  • allowing mourners to stay overnight outside their home
  • the safe management of the funeral venue

This guidance is of a general nature and should be treated as a guide, and in the event of conflict between any applicable legislation (including the health and safety legislation) and this guidance, the applicable legislation shall prevail.

Background

There is an increased risk of transmission of COVID-19 where families and communities come together following the death of a loved one, from any cause. While recognising the importance of these rituals and gatherings, it is strongly advised that the actions detailed in this guidance are taken to reduce the spread of infection, particularly to clinically vulnerable and clinically extremely vulnerable people who are at risk of severe illness.

Who can attend?

The grieving process and related formal and informal rituals through which we mourn the passing of loved ones are important for the health and wellbeing of the bereaved. Interruption of this process is linked with negative impacts on both the physical and mental health of the bereaved.

It is advised only a modest number of family and friends of the deceased should travel to and attend the funeral. Overnight stays away from the home are also permitted, though it is advised this should only be with your own household or support bubble, or with members of one other household (in which case social distancing should be maintained).

Who can attend?

The grieving process and related formal and informal rituals through which we mourn the passing of loved ones are important for the health and wellbeing of the bereaved. Interruption of this process is linked with negative impacts on both the physical and mental health of the bereaved.

It is advised only a modest number of family and friends of the deceased should travel to and attend the funeral. Overnight stays away from the home are also permitted, though it is advised this should only be with your own household or support bubble, or with members of one other household (in which case social distancing should be maintained).

Experiencing grief or bereavement

Whenever the loss of a friend or loved one happens, it can be an extremely difficult and challenging time. This may be even more difficult for those experiencing bereavement and grief during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bereaved people may struggle not just with the bereavement, but with the impact of social distancing measures and the fact that they may not be able to say goodbye in the way that they would have wanted. This may be particularly hard for those living alone, and it may be harder to connect with usual support networks.

Those who are bereaved are likely to feel waves of intense emotions as they come to terms with loss. These can include sadness, guilt, shock and anger. All are common and there is no right or wrong way to feel. Grief affects everyone in different ways, but the important thing is to grieve and to have the right support to do this.

Learn more about grief and support available through the NHS, Cruse Bereavement Care which offers advice and support on dealing with bereavement and grief during the COVID-19 pandemic and ataloss.org which provides signposting and services across the UK. If you are supporting a bereaved child or young person the Childhood Bereavement Network has information and links to national and local organisations.

Finally for now…

As ever, if you have any questions or concerns, and you just want to ask the best way to do things, please do give us a call.  Our number is shown below, send us a little WhatsApp message, or just drop us an email.  We are here to help as this most difficult time.

Arrange a Funeral during the Coronavirus 150 150 Editor

Arrange a Funeral during the Coronavirus

There’s specific guidance about who can attend funerals at the moment.  We would ask that you read through this, if you are to attend a funeral, or you are contacting us about one,

You shouldn’t attend a funeral if:

  • you’re displaying any symptoms of coronavirus.

You can attend a funeral if:

  • you’re a family member, or lived with the person that died
  • you’re a close friend and the person that died didn’t have any close family.

Those arranging the funeral should do their best to enable you to attend if:

  • you’re a close family member self-isolating for 14-days because someone you live with is displaying symptoms
  • you’re a close family member and you’ve been advised to shield and have carefully considerd the risks of doing so.

You’re advised not to attend if:

  • you’ve been asked to shield and anyone else attending lives with anyone displaying symptoms
  • you live with someone displaying symptoms and anyone else attending has been advised to shield.

If you’ve been self-isolating because you live with someone displaying symptoms or you’ve been advised to shield then you should really consider your travel to and from the venue (ideally in a car by yourself) and make sure to keep a safe distance from other mourners at all times.

Everyone attending the funeral should follow the social distancing guidelines and keep a distance of 2 metres.

The latest funeral guidance aims to balance the needs of the bereaved to mourn appropriately while limiting the spread of coronavirus. It outlines where exceptions can be made to the current guidance to stay at home. These exceptions only relate to the death of someone you live with, a family member or a close friend. And if you are self-isolating or shielding and want to attend, special considerations should be made.

Can I still arrange a funeral?

Currently guidelines say that funerals should continue as normally as possible and shouldn’t be delayed. However, families are being asked to restrict attendance to ‘close family members’ to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus to attendees and staff involved in the ceremony.

It is no longer appropriate to hold a gathering after the ceremony at any venue, including the family home.

Also, individual crematoriums may have their own guidance based on their facilities and this will need to be considered when arranging a funeral. They may also provide online broadcasting so mourners can watch the service without attending in person.

When arranging a funeral, you must consider the wider guidelines in place at the moment, including social distancing, good hand hygiene, avoiding physical contact and to be particularly mindful of those in at-risk groups (such as those over 70 who are self-isolating or shielding).

What do I need to think about when arranging a funeral?

When arranging a funeral at the moment, it’s certainly worth considering the following before you contact us:

  • who you want to attend, being mindful of those in high-risk groups who may want to attend
  • arranging service sheets as service books are unlikely to be available
  • recording the eulogy on a phone or other recording device so those not in attendance can listen or watch at another time
  • services may need to be shorter so the venue can be cleaned between services
  • whether you might organise a celebration of life or memorial for a later date, when it’s safe to do so
  • social distancing requirements
  • whether it’s appropriate to have family members bearing the coffin
  • give particular consideration if anyone attending has been self-isolating as they live with someone displaying symptoms, or anyone advised to shield
  • those considered vulnerable or advised to shield are advised to avoid any contact with the body of the person that’s died, including washing, preparing and dressing.
If you have any concerns at all, please do contact us on the number below, and we will happily talk you through it when most convenient for yourself.  It’s a tough time, so we are trying to make this a simple and straightforward as possible.
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Funeral Decisions in the Planning 750 425 Editor

Funeral Decisions in the Planning

There will be a number of decisions that you will need to make when planning a funeral.

Our funeral arrangers will be able to advise you and help you through the process, by explaining to you the full range of our services that we are able to provide.

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Removing the burden of a funeral at the most traumatic time

J funerals will make arrangements on your behalf with local clergy, carriage masters & crematoria, as well as other third parties as required. Our aim is to remove any burden from the families we serve during which is already a traumatic time.

funeral planning with thought and care

J funerals will always provide you with a fully itemised estimate of costs.

Our experienced staff are available 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week via e mail, Whatsapp, text & phone call 07713160873.

J Funerals provides itself in looking after the deceased with love, sensitivity respect and care at all times.

Funerals for the right price 150 150 Editor

Funerals for the right price

At J Funerals, we believe a respectful funeral should not have to cost a lot of money, so we have many options available to you.  From Direct Funerals (which are very simplified, no hearse, no service attendance), to the more Traditional Funerals that many are already familiar with – we are here to discuss them all.

We can come to visit you at a time most convenient to yourselves, and go through everything, in your own time.

Do give us a call, or use our Whatsapp service on 07713 160873 to chat about it.

We are here to make the saddest of times a little easier.