When Is The Appropriate Age To Pre-Plan Final Arrangements?

Do you remember when you were young, and you realized that one day, you were going to pass away? It might have occurred to you after losing a grandparent or watching something on TV. Either way, this realization can be shocking and uncomfortable.

Perhaps that’s why many adults avoid pre-planning their final arrangements. Death is a subject that many of us avoid talking about, which may seem strange when you realize that it’s a natural part of being alive. As a result, a great number of people pass away before making their final arrangements.

Planning your service at a younger age can prevent this from happening. Here’s why and when you should consider doing so:

The Benefits of Pre-planning

Pre-planning your final arrangements relieves a great deal of stress from your friends and family members. During a time of grief, that relief can be incredibly beneficial. Your family won’t need to worry about what you would have preferred and if they are honouring your wishes—instead, they’ll know exactly what you wanted.

Without pre-planning, your loved ones will be forced to make tough decisions about how to move forward only hours after your passing. To put it mildly, this can be overwhelming for your family. Getting your affairs in order ahead of time solves this issue. 

Consider having a conversation with your family members about your plans. Although it can be difficult, speaking about these matters before your passing can clarify any miscommunications and make the process easier later on.

It may feel overwhelming to pick up the phone and speak to someone about your final arrangements. It’s a deeply personal and difficult subject. However, working with a compassionate and experienced funeral director can ease this burden. 

What Age Should I Start Pre-planning?

The answer depends on a few factors:

• Your health. After a health scare, many people are suddenly confronted with their mortality. If your health is declining, now is the time to make arrangements.
• Your financial position. Depending on the type of service that you’re considering, finances could be an obstacle. The average cost of a burial in Canada is between $5,000-$10,000. To avoid passing this financial burden off onto your family, you might want to get an early start on financing. Alternatively, you can consider a cremation service, which is considerably less expensive.
• Your plans. Imagine if you don’t plan your arrangements until the end of your life—you may spend some of your final hours trying to arrange finances to fund a service. For obvious reasons, this situation is not ideal. Give yourself adequate time to plan something that’s meaningful to you and your loved ones. 

Once you plan your final arrangements, they aren’t set in stone. The service you want in your 20s might be vastly different than what the 70-year-old you would prefer. You can make changes at any time. 

Planning your arrangements doesn’t have to be morbid. For many, it can be comforting to acknowledge the fact that one day, we will all pass away. And when that day comes, we can plan a funeral that provides support and closure to our loved ones.

At Alterna, we offer affordable and direct cremation services in Winnipeg. Our funeral director can answer any questions that you might have about cremation and pre-planning; contact us today to learn more.