Funeral Home Trends That Help Families Deal With Grief
The few days following the death of a loved one are best described as an emotional rollercoaster. In most cases, it is not the right time to delegate memorial arrangements to a funeral home. Gone are the days when a one-size-fits-all approach to burial plans would suffice. Today, clients are drawn to the architecture and interior design, which embraces multiculturalism and aims to comfort in a time of grief. This article highlights ways that modern funeral homes help families deal with grief.
Funeral Home Cafes
Until a few years ago, funeral homes were not known to be places where grieving families and friends would spend time talking over a cup of coffee. The traditional funeral home only consisted of a chapel, which allowed family members to hold a short mass then leave. However, things are changing as topics about death and grief are no longer considered taboo. Consequently, people are willing to open up to friends and even strangers, and what better way to do it than over a cup of coffee within the confines of a funeral home. Besides, funeral homes are setting up small spaces with chairs and tables for community members to drop by and talk about coping mechanisms.
Ingenious Coffins
If you have decided to bury a loved one, you can either choose a wooden or metallic coffin. However, the environmental consciousness bug has most people preferring timber coffins over metallic ones. While timber coffins are biodegradable, they still take time to breakdown. Although cremation has become the most popular way of laying a loved one to rest, living coffins are becoming popular. They are excellent examples of how a partnership between funeral homes and researchers can help grieving families. A perfect example of a living coffin is one made from mushroom mycelium. Most importantly, the coffin decomposes fast with the deceased body inside, consequently creating ideal conditions for plants to grow. Therefore, you can plant a loved ones' favourite flowers on their grave and watch the plants grow into beautiful blooms. Additionally, you can pluck mature flowers and place them in a vase at home for remembrance.
Home-Like Décor
Family members are less likely to stay longer than is necessary in a funeral home that feels cold and dreary. Although funeral homes are synonymous with death, their interior should be welcoming. Therefore, funeral home directors are revamping their interiors with home-like décor to achieve the elusive home-away-from-home experience. Such décor features floral furniture, popping wall colours, wall picture frames, ambient lighting, and modern design urns used as vases. The efforts go a long way in helping families grieve.