Homesteaders Blog

Helping Families Through Holiday Grief: Our Best Resources

Did you know there are at least a dozen religious and national holidays observed in December? Therefore, even if someone doesn’t celebrate a mainstream holiday like Christmas or Hanukkah, it’s likely they’re still celebrating something meaningful to them.

How Funeral Directors Can Support Families with Grieving Children

In your role as a funeral professional, you often see families during their most challenging times, and not just adults feel the weight of grief; children too feel deep loss. November marks Children's Grief Awareness Month, and also features Children's Grief Awareness Day on the third Thursday of November. This time is dedicated to bringing attention to the needs of grieving children and the benefits of the support they receive from the community, including from professionals like you.

Ways Funeral Directors Can Support Families Grieving Suicide Loss

Funeral directors, more than anyone, see firsthand the devastating emotional and physical effects families experience when faced with the unexpected loss of a loved one. And when their loved one dies by suicide, their grief becomes even more complex. On top of deep sorrow, families impacted by suicide loss often struggle with a multitude of complicated emotions – shock, guilt, anger, shame and confusion. 

What Funeral Professionals Can Learn from Elevia’s Aftercare Approach

In the ever-evolving landscape of funeral service, funeral professionals need solutions for a compassionate and innovative approach to aftercare and client-family support. Elevia, formerly known as Domanicare, is an aftercare solution that recently rebranded to better reflect its mission of elevating connections, supporting communities and driving business growth. This transformation is not just a change in name but a testament to Elevia’s dedication to providing exceptional aftercare and client-family experiences. Here’s what you, as a funeral professional, can learn from Elevia’s successful approach.

3 Ways Funeral Homes Can Support Bereaved Spouses

It goes without saying that the basis of a funeral professional’s job is organizing the necessary logistics of a funeral arrangement for families and individuals experiencing the recent loss of a loved one. But there are many ways to provide additional care and compassionate support that go beyond the rudimentary details of the service.

Lessons on Grief from Cinema

The Oscars (Academy Awards) are swiftly approaching and, with other awards shows under our nation’s belt this year, we have movies on our minds! While we didn’t find notable depictions of grief in the 2023 nominations, we decided to reach back to a few of our favorite films that center around death and grieving.

5 Grief Resources for Funeral Professionals

You have heard and said this phrase a thousand times: Everyone grieves differently. So, how do you provide support when every single grieving person has a different experience? We know you’re busy with the day-to-day operations, but we understand the value of staying connected to your client families.

Below we have highlighted a few resources (many which are free) that you can easily implement in your funeral home or supply to your client families.

7 Comforting Text Messages to Send to Someone Who is Grieving

It’s something that has likely happened to most of us. Someone you know recently lost a loved one and you want to let them know you’re thinking about them in the days, weeks or months to follow. When you are unable to comfort your friend or family member in person, a thoughtful text message can make just as much of an impact, letting them know you care and are there to support them. However, knowing what to text to someone who is grieving can be tricky.

5 Ways to Help Families Honor a Loved One on Valentine's Day

For those who have lost a loved one, Valentine’s Day can be a very difficult and emotional time. It serves as a heart wrenching landmark on the long path of grief, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t meaningful ways to cherish the love that was once celebrated.

Real Stories of Text-Based Aftercare Success

You already know that aftercare is an important part of your funeral home’s marketing plan. If you haven’t already developed an aftercare program or are looking for ways to reach customers in a more personalized and non-intrusive way, consider text messaging.