As your parents reach older age, or their health starts to deteriorate, you will likely find yourself thinking about a time when they are no longer here. As well as the worry and upset of losing someone, questions about their funeral may also arise.
Planning for someone’s death might not be something you had considered, but taking the time to make provisions in advance of a death can help to make the experience of losing someone easier to cope with.
In this blog we’ll tell you a little bit more about funeral plans and whether you can take a plan out for a parent or loved one.
What is a funeral plan?
A prepaid funeral plan provides the opportunity to arrange a funeral in advance of someone’s death. Taking out a funeral plan serves two main purposes – to set in place all the wishes you have for a funeral and allow you to pay for the majority of your funeral in advance.
During the planning stages, your chosen funeral director will guide you through the arrangements and document your wishes. This means that when the time eventually comes, the arranging team can begin organising the funeral straightaway and much of the stress is removed. Whilst not every funeral cost will be included in the plan, taking out a funeral plan can help you to manage the cost of a funeral and potentially save you money.
There are many providers of funeral plans, each with different specifications and offerings, so it’s important to do your research and find a plan that best suits your needs and the funeral you want.
At Dillamore we provide the Independent Way funeral plan from Golden Charter. There are no packages with the Independent Way plan – your funeral plan is scaled around your needs and wishes to create a totally bespoke plan. Setting up your plan is a simple process and our experienced team will guide you through each step
What are the benefits of having a funeral plan?
Pre-paid funeral plans allow you to pay for the majority of your funeral at today’s prices. The average cost of a funeral in the UK is £4,141,¹ and funeral costs are continuing to rise year-on-year. Taking out a funeral plan could save you a significant amount of money in the long run, and may also protect your family from additional financial burden if the cost of your funeral exceeds the money you had saved for it.
One of the greatest benefits of a pre-paid funeral plan is the peace of mind it can offer. If you’ve ever had to organise a funeral, you’ll understand just how valuable it is to know a person’s wishes for their funeral. Knowing that everything is taken care of, and the majority of your funeral is paid for, can provide you with a greater sense of peace and ensure your family aren’t left with difficult decisions when the time comes.
Can I take funeral insurance out for my parents?
Yes, providing you have their permission. Many people take out funeral plans on a behalf of their parents, a partner or close family member. When setting up the plan you will need to specify who the plan is for, and ensure that you are listed to act as the representative for the plan.
If you are taking a plan out on someone else’s behalf, it’s important to respect their wishes and get them involved in the planning process. Whilst no one likes talking about death, discussing a person’s funeral wishes can help a family come to terms with the future death of a loved one.
To find out more about the Independent Way Plan, reach out to our team on 01525 372210 or use our contact form to send us an email.
¹Sun Life Cost of Dying Report 2024
