What COVID-19 Has Taught Us About Aftercare by Jon Lefrandt T here is no question that COVID-19 has forever changed our lives. Furthermore, profession has materially changed. the funeral In this article, I’ll discuss the need for aftercare both in general and specific to this pandemic, and some lessons we’ve learned as a tech company serving funeral homes and the funeral profession during this time. Why aftercare? I often get asked this question: “Why aftercare?” Sometimes it is asked by friends and family wondering how I got my start in the funeral profession. Other times, by funeral home owners and funeral professionals asking why they need an aftercare program. No matter who is asking the question, I begin my response the same way; with a story from my own life. 24 www.ogr.org | Summer 2020 Ten years ago, when I was 25, I lost my father to brain cancer. He was 46 years old and had seven young children. During the funeral planning process, I learned firsthand about the value of funeral service and its importance for those left behind. I also noticed things that needed improvement. Though I didn’t know the term “aftercare” at the time, I recognized that it was missing from my family’s experience. After the funeral service, we did not hear from the funeral home and were left to navigate our grief alone. I didn’t want others to have to experience a loss that way, which ended up being the primary motivating factor that led to my career in the funeral profession.
25 Publizr Home