Klicker Chapter 22 Flashcards
What outside factors influence funeral service?
- Economy
- Social Trends
- Demographics
- Government Regulations
Life Expectancy
- 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.
Population Growth
- 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.
Family
- 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
The Reconstituted Family
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.
Blended Families
The bringing together of interracial, intercultural, and inter-religious unions will increase in the years ahead.
Chosen Famillies
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.
Religion
- Attendance at organized religious ceremonies is declining.-Increase of people who describe themselves as “spiritual”
- The number of non-religious funeral will increase.
Alternative Dispositions
- 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
Government Regulation
-This will continue to increase especially in areas of PN, crematory operations, organ and tissue donation, EPA, and ADA.
Consumer Education
- Will continue to increase in all areas
- The internet has had a major contribution
Computerization
-Although computerization is still in its infancy, small computers can handle a staggering amount of complex functions.
Number of Funeral Home Acquisitions
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.
Building
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.
Hiring
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.