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Some of you may find this topic a bit unsettling, and you’ll wonder why I’m addressing it on my blog. Well, here’s the thing. Each of us will eventually die, including our residents, and our bodies will need to go somewhere.
When we understand the options for our bodies after death, it helps us make better decisions. And, it helps us feel more comfortable discussing this sensitive subject.
That’s why today, I’ll briefly describe several of the most common options for our bodies after we die. I also include links to other resources in case you wish to explore a topic in more detail.
Traditional burial
Until recent years, Americans most often buried their dead. While this remains a popular choice, cremation has now become more common.
Burial is usually preceded by temporarily preserving the body through embalming. The process involves replacing the blood and other body fluids with a formaldehyde-based liquid. Friends and family can then view the body at the funeral service.
Burial takes place in a casket that can be as simple or ornate as the individual wishes. Interment most often takes place in a cemetery.
A headstone marks the identity of the person interred in the grave, allowing family and friends to visit the gravesite over the years.
For more information about funeral planning
Green burial
A significant advantage of a green burial is its low environmental impact. The body does not undergo embalming and returns naturally to the soil.
After wrapping it in a shroud, the body is lowered into a shallow grave. A biodegradable coffin made of cardboard, untreated wood, or wicker also may be used.
A traditional cemetery may dedicate a specific area to green burials, while other locations consist entirely of green burials. The graves usually return to a natural landscape of grasses, shrubs, and trees. In certain situations, a green burial may also take place on private property.
For more information about green burials
Cremation
Cremation is becoming increasingly popular in the United States and is now the method of choice in over 50% of deaths. During cremation, they place the body in a chamber where it is incinerated under intense heat for about 1-3 hours.
Some people have their bodies embalmed to prepare for a traditional funeral service, and then cremation takes place afterward. Another option is to do the cremation shortly after death, and only an urn containing the ashes is present at the funeral.
The ashes can be scattered, buried, or kept in an urn. You’ve probably also have seen ads for services that turn portions of the ashes into everything from jewelry to fireworks. Be aware, however, that some faiths such as the Catholic Church do not approve of these methods.
Click here for more information about cremation
Alkaline hydrolysis
This newer method of processing a body after death is legal in less than half of U.S. states. The process involves placing the body in a heated alkaline solution that dissolves the tissues. This resulting liquid then goes into the sewer system. After pulverizing the bones, they return the remains to the family in an urn.
Advocates promote this process as more environmentally friendly than either embalming or cremating a body. However, others, such as some religious groups, view this procedure as disrespectful to the human body.
For more information about alkaline hydrolysis
Donating one’s body to science
About 20,000 Americans donate their bodies to science each year. Human bodies provide valuable resources for medical education, surgical training, and research into the development of medical devices.
Facilities may use the bodies for as little as a few months to 2 or more years. Then the bodies undergo either cremation or alkaline hydrolysis. Families often receive the ashes, or they can be buried or scattered in dedicated locations with other donor ashes.
For more information about anatomical gift programs
I hope this post helps you feel more comfortable thinking about and talking about after-death options. Please share your thoughts in the comment section.
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