As 2021 draws to a close, we reflect on this year in the death space, and the challenges funeral professionals had to overcome. 2020 brought on one of the most trying times for the death industry, leading to overwhelming volume and finding new ways to serve their families when face-to-face care was not always possible.
2021 was not much different, still bringing high volume and continued trends in disposition choices. Cremation continued to be the leader in disposition, with 56.1% of decedents being cremated. The year also continued the need for adaptability in the industry, with more funeral homes turning to technology to connect with families.
This year marked a turning point in the pandemic. Technology solutions grew, leading companies like eFuneral to create new solutions for our partners’ needs. 2021 was ultimately a great year because we started getting out of the pandemic. However, it continued to drag on morale and spirits and the challenges, anxiety, and frustration of 2020 – funeral directors are still dealing with the aftermath.
So what should funeral professionals expect in 2022? As we continue into the second year of the pandemic, funeral directors will see similar trends in cremation arrangements, but will also have more tech opportunities to maximize their time and growth potential.
eFuneral’s 2022 plans include more support for funeral home staff and resources for funeral homes to start thinking about their businesses, long-term. We have a lot of conversations with funeral homes that have never changed their processes; our biggest focus is: how we can empower funeral professionals to be more successful without asking them to put in more time?
Next year, you’ll see content from us on how to rethink the profession, with this demographic crunch coming – a high death rate of boomers and low numbers in funeral directors.
Luke Frieberg President eFuneral Solutions, LLC
We’re here to empower funeral professionals to support their staff and serve their families, with a branded online planning tool. Click here to learn more and schedule a demo.