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Funeral Arrangements

AARP Bulletin Poll "Getting Ready to Go" Executive Summary  / Research Report
January 2008— This nationwide poll, commissioned by the AARP Bulletin, found that an overwhelming majority of adults age 35 and older are aware of steps they and their parents can take to prepare for the end of life, but that less than half have completed the paperwork. Likelihood of completion varied by age and health status. (9 pages)

Funeral and Burial Planners Survey  / Research Report
November 2007— A sizeable portion of the 50+ population (34%) has engaged in some preplanning for a funeral or burial, and just under a quarter of individuals ages 50+ have prepaid at least a portion of funeral or burial expenses for themselves or someone else. These are key findings from telephone interviews with 1,087 individuals ages 50+ in a study that updates similar research conducted by AARP in 1995, 1998, and 1999. (32 pages)

Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey 2000  / Research Report
November 2000— Key findings from a national survey of age 50+ consumers about their experiences purchasing burial plots, goods and services at both for-profit and not-for-profit cemeteries, and their attitudes toward government regulation of cemetery sales. (25 pages) (Publication ID: D17304)

The Deathcare Industry  / Research Report
May 2000— Major changes are taking place in the funeral and burial industries. How federal and state regulators are responding to the deathcare industry's ongoing transformation are reported in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Brief by Sharon Hermanson (8 pages) (Publication ID: IB44)

Preneed Funeral and Burial Agreements: A Summary of State Statutes  / Research Report
December 1999— An overview of preneed state statutes and regulations, identifying key consumer protection provisions, such as: (1) licensing of preneed sellers, (2) funding options for preneed contracts, (3) required contract provisions, (4) refund requirements, and (5) consumer protection funds. An AARP Public Policy Institute report by Sandra Eskin. (74 pages) (Publication ID: D17093)

Funeral and Burial Planners Survey 1999  / Research Report
August 1999— Conducting the Funeral and Burial Planners Survey, AARP Research staff investigated consumer experiences with pre-need funeral and burial contracts within the past 18 months and produced this 51-page report (in PDF format) detailing the survey’s findings about advanced funeral and burial planning, embalming, shopping for funeral homes, caskets, grave liners, burial vaults, and pricing on funeral and burial goods and services. (Publication ID: D16998)

Preneed Funeral and Burial Agreements  / Fact Sheet
June 1999— This AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet by Sharon Hermanson provides consumers with basic information about trends in the funeral and burial industries, and the regulation of preneed funeral and burial agreements. (4 pages) (Publication ID: FS76)

Older Americans and Preneed Funeral and Burial Arrangements: Findings from a Five-State Telephone Survey  / Research Report
June 1999— Findings from a five-state telephone survey, in PDF format, exploring the purchase of preneed funeral and burial arrangements by Americans 50 and older. (Publication ID: D16993)

Older Americans and Preneed Funeral and Burial Arrangements: Findings from a 1998 National Telephone Survey and Comparison with a 1995 Survey  / Research Report
May 1999— An AARP telephone survey, in PDF format, exploring the purchase of preneed funeral and burial arrangements by Americans 50 and older. (Publication ID: D16999)