Survey Reveals Opportunities to Strengthen Funeral Home and Hospice Partnerships

Our survey of funeral providers paints an interesting picture of the current state of funeral home-hospice relationships. Perhaps most revealing is the limited direct communication between these care providers. Most respondents reported that hospice representatives contact their funeral homes with questions on behalf of families either "never" or only "a few times a month." Even more telling, almost all respondents indicated that hospice team members "never" attend arrangement conferences with families.

This communication gap represents a missed opportunity for both entities to provide seamless support to families during their time of need. When professionals from both sides of the end-of-life journey collaborate, families benefit from more comprehensive care and guidance.

The survey also examined how funeral homes invest in their relationships with hospice organizations. Financial contributions vary widely, from nothing at all to over $5,000 annually. Similarly, most funeral homes report minimal volunteer hours (typically 0-10 hours monthly) dedicated to supporting local hospice providers.

The distribution of informational materials about funeral options to hospice agencies appears inconsistent, with responses ranging from "never" to "quarterly." This variability suggests that many funeral homes may not have established protocols for outreach and education with their hospice partners.

Despite these gaps, there are encouraging signs of collaboration. Some funeral homes report co-hosting meaningful community events with hospice providers, including:

- Senior expos

- End-of-life informational sessions

- Grief and aftercare meetings

- Holiday remembrance events

These joint initiatives serve the community and foster stronger professional relationships between funeral service and hospice care teams.

Communication methods with hospice team members vary widely, including email, phone, text, in-person meetings, and occasionally social media or mail. However, follow-up after services is minimal, with many reporting no structured follow-up process. When hospice team members attend services, most funeral homes offer basic courtesies like escorting them to the register book.

Perhaps most encouraging is what funeral directors identify as their priorities. "Understanding what hospice care team members value in a funeral home partner" emerged as a consistent top concern, indicating a genuine desire to improve relationships. Other common priorities included:

- Training employees on building relationships with hospice care teams

- Co-hosting public events with hospice agencies

- Learning about the challenges local hospice providers face

- Determining the number of hospice deaths in their service area

These priorities reflect an awareness of the importance of these relationships, even if current practices don't yet fully reflect this understanding.

The relationship between hospice providers and funeral homes represents an essential continuity of care for families. When a seamless transition exists between hospice care and funeral service, families experience fewer disruptions during an already difficult time. Additionally, both organizations serve many of the same families within their communities, making collaboration beneficial and logical.

By strengthening these relationships, both funeral homes and hospice providers can:

1. Provide more comprehensive support to families

2. Ensure consistent messaging about end-of-life options

3. Better understand and meet the needs of their shared community

4. Create meaningful opportunities for remembrance and healing

5. Improve the overall experience for families during their time of need

Our survey reveals both challenges and opportunities in the funeral home-hospice relationship. While current engagement may be limited, recognizing its importance suggests a foundation for growth.

For funeral homes looking to strengthen these vital connections, consider:

- Establishing regular check-ins with local hospice providers

- Creating educational materials specifically for hospice team members

- Inviting hospice representatives to tour your facilities

- Collaborating on community education events

- Developing formal follow-up protocols after serving shared families

- Offering in-service training sessions for hospice staff about funeral options

By bridging this gap, funeral service professionals can enhance their business relationships and, more importantly, provide better care for the families who need their services during life's most challenging moments.