It was around February that the country was alarmed because of the rising numbers of Covid-19 infections. Midway around March, the local government enforced community quarantines. Despite the continuous rise of deaths, funeral homes around Philippines are losing revenue. What’s more, the pandemic is shifting the way people conducts funerals. From intimate celebrations, it transformed into nothing.
Because of the highly-contagious nature of the virus, people are dying alone, with no family by their side, only to have their remains cremated to minimize risks of infection. As this pandemic continues to affect lives, left and right, how does it impact funerals?
As of this writing, there are 8670 deaths recorded in the country. Despite the staggering number, this does not, in any way, benefit the situations of funeral homes and deathcare service providers. In fact, it only made matter worse for them.
Funeral homes and deathcare providers generate income through contact. By being able to help grieving families into celebrations of life, deathcare services make their operations sustainable. However, with the risks and restrictions of Covid-19, this is not possible.
What’s more, there are registered crematoriums that the government partners with for monitoring and tracking purposes. Because cremations minimizes the risks of local transmission of Covid-19, funeral homes and providers fail to make ends meet.
The reason for which is that cremations are undeniably more convenient and cheaper than conducting local and loving memorials. What’s more, funeral plan sales plummeted this year because of peoples’ realizations for the tradition of conducting funerals versus cremations.
Funeral homes and other service providers rely on the sales of pre-need plans as a means of continuing source of cash flows. Without this, funeral homes will suffer losses and may lose business opportunities.
Because businesses, such as funeral homes, need to adapt to stay adrift such tremendous losses, there can be new strategies to try. One note-worthy tactic is to utilize the advancement of technologies for grieving families to connect with each other.
Live-streaming funeral services is an up and rising method for people away from the deceased to connect with remaining family members. Even before the pandemic, live streaming is already a great idea. Another excellent measure for bringing everyone together and enjoying the solidarity of paying respects is through a radio broadcast.
Although such commemoration of loss is not the usual state or what has been considered as a tradition, funeral parlor owners need to strategize and creatively answer to the needs of grieving families.
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