Funeral Arrangements
Funeral and Burial Planners Survey 1999
Research Report
Rachelle Cummins, M.A., AARP Knowledge Management
Jane Takeuchi, AARP Knowledge Management
Gretchen Straw, AARP Knowledge Management
Sharon Hermanson, AARP Public Policy Institute
George Gaberlavage, AARP Public Policy Institute
Lee Norrgard, AARP Applied Gerontology Group
Adrienne Oleck, AARP Applied Gerontology
Jeff Kramer, AARP Federal Affairs
August 1999
Conducting the Funeral and Burial Planners Survey, a telephone survey of adults age 50 and older, AARP Research staff investigated consumer experiences with pre-need funeral and burial contracts within the past 18 months and produced a 51-page report. The report presents findings that reveal marketplace practices that harm consumers. For example, despite laws requiring written price lists, nearly a third (32%) of funeral pre-planners or arrangers were not given written price lists up-front. Among other survey findings, this report describes consumer experiences with making advanced funeral and burial arrangements, embalming, shopping for funeral homes, and purchasing caskets, grave liners and burial vaults.
Pub ID: D16998