FAQ Pages (Your Most Frequently Asked Questions on End of Life and After Death Care Topics
End of Life Care FAQ
What is hospice care?
Hospice care is a type of palliative care where the patient has only 6 months left to live and don’t
have any chance of curing their disease. Studies show that hospice care is very effective both at
comforting the patient and keeping them alive, as life expectancy is higher for patients with the
same illnesses who are in hospice care, as opposed to those who choose surgeries and other
invasive treatments.
Where can I learn more about hospice care?
The best places to learn about hospice care are our website’s Hospice Care page for a general
overview of hospice care or Hospice Nurse Julie’s YouTube channel for more specific topics
within Hospice Care. Chris Palmer’s book How to Achieve a Good Death also has a section
about hospice care in Chapter 7.
What are the top-rated home hospice care providers in NJ?
Based on Google ratings, the top rated hospice care providers in NJ are Ennoble Care which
provides in-home care in Newark (4.3 stars and 252 reviews), Grace Healthcare Services in
Edison (110 ratings and 4.5 stars), Center for Hope Hospice & Palliative Care in Scotch Plains
(4.6 stars and 93 reviews), and Serenity Hospice of New Jersey ( 4.1 stars and 64 reviews).
What is palliative care?
Palliative care is care for anyone with a terminal illness, regardless of how long they have. It
doesn’t focus on curing the disease, which is the responsibility of other doctors, but instead
focuses on easing suffering and improving the quality of life. It can be based on hospices,
hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient palliative care clinics or in home.
Where can I learn more about palliative care?
To learn more and find a provider, visit https://www.gepalliativecare.org/ Chris Palmer’s book
How to Achieve a Good Death also has a section about palliative care in Chapter 7.
What are the differences between hospice and palliative care programs?
Hospice care is a type of palliative care. Hospice care is usually for terminal patients with six
months or less to live, whereas traditional palliative care is for anyone with a terminal illness.
How can I find local palliative care services for terminal illness?
To find a local palliative care provider, visit https://www.gepalliativecare.org and enter your
location information and any other search terms and filters you are looking for.
Where can I get a list of affordable end of life care insurance plans?
Most people in the US at the end of life have Medicare, which is government owned. You can
find a list of Medicare plans on the official Medicare Plan Finder page here:
https://www.medicare.gov/plan-compare/#/?year=2026&lang=en
How do I arrange professional bereavement counseling through a service provider?
To arrange professional bereavement counseling, search on an online search tool like the one on Psychology Today and reach out to providers that match your insurance and other preferences.
Are there mobile apps for managing pain and symptoms in end of life care?
Yes, there are mobile apps for managing pain and symptoms which can be used for end of life
care. Examples of apps include My Pain Diary, Chronic Pain Tracker, and Ouchie. Check each
one to see if it has the features you need.
What legal services assist with end of life care planning and advance directives?
The two kinds of lawyers that assist with end of life care planning and advance directives are
elder law and estate planning law.
Where to find legal advice for advance funeral planning contracts?
Only lawyers can give legal advice for advance funeral planning contracts. To find a lawyer who
specializes in funeral planning contracts, use an online search platform like Find Law or Avvo or
to find a lawyer who specializes in estate law or elder law, depending on the specific services
you need.
Which NJ companies offer 24/7 end of life nursing support at home?
Companies like Amada Senior Care, Amedisys Hospice Care, and Grace Healthcare Services
offer 24/7 end of life nursing support in home. There are also many more companies around NJ
that offer this care as well.
Which pharmacies in NJ provide specialized medication delivery for hospice patients?
Pharmacies in NJ that provide specialized medication delivery for hospice patients include
Bonhamtown Pharmacy in Edison, DeliverCareRx in Deptford, Riverview Pharmacy in Wayne,
and Live Well Rx in Randolph. There are also many more. Check the specific pharmacy to see if
they have a specific medication.
After Death Care FAQ
What are some ways malpractice can happen in the funeral industry?
Malpractice can happen in the funeral industry in a variety of ways, including when funeral directors overcharge for items, don’t disclose that cheaper options are available, or use manipulative sales tactics. See the next question for how to avoid malpractice.
How can I avoid malpractice in the funeral industry?
There are a few tools at your disposal to avoid malpractice. First, the funeral rule in the US, which requires funeral homes by law to disclose the prices of every item. Second, know that a funeral director has to allow you to reject their preferred choice and keep you as a client by law. Third, visit the national Funeral Consumers Alliance’s website (our parent organization) for a comprehensive guide and how to avoid malpractice.
What is the average cost of a funeral in New Jersey?
The average cost depends on what type of after death care you choose. According to Funeralocity, the average funeral cost with a traditional burial is $9,451 and the average funeral cost with cremation is $6,684. According to the Green Burial Council, a funeral with green burial is similar in price to a traditional burial. Finally, human composting was only recently legalized in NJ, so there is not comprehensive data on it yet.
What is the cost range for prepaid funerals in NJ through national providers?
In NJ, the cost is nearly the same as a traditional funeral, with NJ law requiring that providers reimburse almost everything that isn’t used with interest. See the previous question for the average cost of a funeral in New Jersey.
What are the best online platforms for advance funeral planning?
The best online platforms for advance funeral planning are checklists on Wellabe.com and Funeralocity and Passare’s tool for specific planning, and the guide on our website for a general overview.
How to compare prepaid funeral plans from different providers?
You can compare prepaid funeral plans by checking things like price, quality of items, items offered, quality of the people you are in contact with, and other important factors. While there isn’t a single tool that can compare specifically prepaid options, Parting.com can compare regular plans from providers. AI LLM tools like Chat GPT could provide an analysis of prepaid funeral plans, especially using Deep Research mode, but be warned that in most cases, anything you give the model will become public.
Where to find reviews of funeral planning services in New Jersey?
Parting.com specializes in funeral planning reviews and also includes other important information like the cost and location. You can also find reviews for some companies on traditional review platforms like Google and Yelp.
Which companies in New Jersey offer customizable advance funeral planning packages?
The top companies in New Jersey that offer customizable advance funeral planning packages according to Google Reviews are Vander Plaat Colonial Home in Fair Lawn with 4.9 stars and 136 reviews, Zuasola Funeral Homes of New Jersey in Belleville with 5 stars and 117 reviews, Alvarez Funeral Home Inc in Newark with 4.7 stars and 111 reviews, and McCracken Funeral Home with 4.6 stars and 109 reviews. We encourage consumers to research options thoroughly and look at reviews before deciding.
How to set up a digital will and funeral instructions?
To set up a digital will, make an account on services like freewill.com for a no-cost option, Trust & Will for couples and families, or Quicken Willmaker and Trust for frequent updates, and enter your information. To create digital funeral instructions, use a word processor like Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Pages, or Canva and write out the instructions. Some of these options like Microsoft Word offer password protection for documents, ensuring their safety.
What are the top apps for managing advance funeral arrangements?
The top rated and downloaded app on the Apple App Store is Legacy Plan, for $4.99. On Google’s Android App Store the apps that come up as the top result for the word “funeral” are Sendoff Funeral App and Nomaye Services App, both of which are free.
How to transfer funds securely for prepaid funeral services?
To transfer funds securely for prepaid funeral services, check with your funeral provider to see which payment method they prefer, such as check, online transfer through services like Zelle or Venmo, and check to make sure they are secure.
Where can I buy life insurance that includes funeral expenses coverage?
You can buy life insurance that includes funeral expenses coverage from a provider. There are a few ways you can find a provider. You can reach out to providers directly by searching for them on Google and contacting them, contact brokers by searching for them on Google and contacting them, or use comparison sites like Policy Genius or Select Quote. We recommend reading reviews before selecting a provider.
How do digital funeral planning services handle personalization options?
Digital funeral planning services handle personalization options in a variety of ways including providing funeral service materials that are personal to the deceased, livestreams with personalized elements, and videos. If you have a specific request for personalization options, contact your provider directly to ask about it.
What are the benefits of online funeral planning versus traditional methods?
Benefits of online funeral planning include the ability to collaborate with people outside of your area, ability to see the full cost ahead of time, and the flexibility to do it in your home.
How to find local funeral homes in New Jersey that support advance planning online?
Most funeral homes in New Jersey support advance planning online. You can find funeral homes in your area by searching zTo check if a specific home offers advance planning, check their website. Or, if it’s not shown on their website, give them a call.
How to update or change advance funeral plans with service companies?
The way to update or change advanced funeral plans with service companies depends on your provider. For smaller changes, contacting them is enough to make changes. For a large change, such as switching between burial and cremation, there will likely be other steps in addition to contacting them like paperwork or additional payment if your new option is more expensive. The exact process varies by provider. In NJ, companies legally have to reimburse almost any service that is unused.
Which online services help create and store advance funeral plans?
Online services that help create and store advance funeral plans include direct providers’ websites and apps and third party websites and apps. We recommend reading reviews before selecting one of these options.
How to compare payment plans for funeral pre-arrangement services in New Jersey?
The most important factors to consider when comparing payment plans are the following
Are the costs guaranteed on non-guaranteed? If the funds are non-guaranteed, they could increase later, causing you to have to pay more.
Which expenses are excluded?
It’s impossible to pay for everything up front, but plans can vary as to what can and can’t be prepaid for In New Jersey, there’s also a few things you do not have to consider. All pre-paid plans in New Jersey are paid into the New Jersey pre-paid trust funds. Also, you can switch funeral homes at any time.
How to notify family and friends about advance funeral plans digitally?
The best way to notify family and friends about advance funeral plans digitally is to contact them directly using their preferred contact method. Even if your provider offers a way to send it directly, you should still contact them so they have a heads up.
What are popular memorial product options offered by funeral service companies?
Funeral service companies offer a variety of memorial products including jewelry, DVDs/videos, photo prints, prayer cards, funeral programs, and many, many more products depending on the company.
How to choose between cremation and burial options in advance planning?
Choosing between cremation and burial options depends on a number of factors including cost, environmental concerns, and more. On our FCANNJ website, you can find information on all burial and cremation options including traditional burial, green burial, human composting, and cremation. You can also change from one to the other later.
How to schedule a consultation with a funeral planning advisor online?
You can find a funeral planning advisor by making a google search for funeral planning advisors and then your area, for example “funeral planning advisors in New Jersey,” then either call or email them to schedule a consultation.
How to integrate advance funeral planning with estate and financial planning?
To integrate advance funeral planning with estate and financial planning, use tools like prepaid plans, life insurance, and trusts to ensure a cohesive and effective integration between the two.
Where to find customer service contacts for advance funeral plan providers?
To find customer service contacts for a specific advance funeral plan provider, look on the provider’s website or search on google for the name of the provider and either phone number or email.
What companies in New Jersey provide eco-friendly or green funeral pre-planning options?
In New Jersey, any company that provides both pre-planning options and eco-friendly/green burial options will offer them together. These companies include Madison Memorial Home in Madison, Paul Ippolito Memorial Home in Summit and Berkeley Heights, Jaqui-Kuhn Funeral Home in Highland Park, Feeney Funeral Home in Ridgewood, and many more.
How to access and manage prepaid funeral plans through digital portals?
To access and manage prepaid funeral plans through digital portals, login to the service you are using. If you are unsure of how to login, contact the organization. To find a digital portal, see the answer earlier on this page.
