Death discussion: Organ donation, donating body to science, funeral home costs, etc..
 

I'm a caretaker for two elderly parents, and while I've discussed with them their end-of-life wishes (both are organ donors & both desire cremation) I really have no idea the steps one needs to go through once a person dies.

If they die at home (most likely scenario) who do I call first? Their primary doctor, police department, funeral home, or other agency?

They are both organ donors, but is there demand for organ donation of a 90 year old person?

If you want to donate your body to science, does this need to be arranged in advance? Lots of different organizations out there, maybe some not so reputable....any recommendations?

I read that the average funeral costs approx $10,000...to each their own but that seems absurd to me.

If a person dies at home and he/she is a hospice patient, you can call the hospice nurse. But, if they are not a hospice patient, I am pretty sure you need to call 911.

A funeral can easily cost $7,000 or more (the sky is the limit), if you want a complete funeral with a casket, a service, and a burial. But, if you get a simple cremation, it shouldn't cost more than about $1,400. Both options can be priced in advance without paying in advance, which I would never do. I would visit a funeral home and get a price list, which I think is required by law. Also, the funeral home should give you a detailed quote for the entire cost.

If they are organ donors, I would find out who to call in advance and let them make the decision at the time as to whether they want the body. But, they would need to make the arrangements to transport the body and pay any costs.

you can get free cremation if you donate their bodies to universities for med students to practice exams, research, etc. My mom has two options for research, Harvard and Tufts medical schools. UMASS didn't return my phone calls. .

the body will be cremated when finished and shipped back to you. They will pay for removing the body as well. if you have power of attorney, then you can fill in the paperwork, as long as they verbally agree with any other family members present for witnesses, depending upon their ability to comprehend.

I would think that hospice is a decision with the patient, primary care doctor and you as to when to use "Hospice at Home". Also, you can always discuss end of life decisions with the primary care doctor.

Also, I recommend reading Atul Gawande's book, Being Mortal, What Matters in the End., he is a boston surgeon who discusses end of life with his patients and when his father, both parents were doctors, passes away.

Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters... book by Atul Gawande

good luck

I had a friend who died at home. Hospice at home was the only option for hospice because they didn't have a facility. One advantage to hospice is that you can avoid a 911 call to verify that foul play was not involved in the death. If you don't have hospice, calling a doctor or funeral home is usually not an option.

I just wonder if you have any suggestions as to who to call. I tried to call UF with no luck.

The are networks of “Organ Procurement Organizations” all over the country.
They are primarilyfor transplants, but an elderly would not be a candidate for transplant.
I work in this space, the OPO might be involve with university or other researchers.

Organ Procurement Organizations and Transplant Centers | Donate Life Florida

Looks like this may serve central FLA
AdventHealth Transplant Institute
2415 N. Orange Ave., Suite 700
Orlando, FL 32804
407-303-2474
AdventHealth Transplant Institute

Call them and talk, they will have facts.

One must be at a medical facility to donate organs. So dying at home doesn’t work for organ donation.
I don’t know the oldest organ donor, but have been witness to more of my fare share of ages from hours old to the oldest was 78. But that is just one metro area, of many years of trauma.

I looked into donating my body to a college a few years back when my daughter was getting a medical degree and I realized what a gift that is to the students to do something like that. I didn’t try to contact any university. I did my search online. What I found out was that the educational systems, at least the ones I researched, does NOT pay to have the body transported to them, and one does have to have pre-balming done before the body is sent to them. Afterwards, 2 years I believe it is, the family member has the option of the ashes being sent back to them, or allowing the university to do a ceremony which thanks all the donors, and the ashes spread somewhere. I believe in Florida it is over the Gulf of Mexico.

Donation
 

Looked into the donation thing once. They weren't interested. Burial at sea would be cool. No muss, no fuss - other than organizing the boat ride and maybe a concrete block.

My dad's wishes were to be buried at see (or just off the coast by three miles) and we did so. . his cremated ashes were poured into the water with family and guests in attendance. I couldn't go as it was very rough, many seasick, and just herniated a disc so standing and walking was not easy. commercial ceremony paid for with a sailing vessel out of gloucester, ma,

My uncle's ashes were scattered by family members in Long Island Sound, from a friends boat. .

CoachK's wishes are to have her ashes used to fill golf divots at a course of her choice.. . . 18 holes course. .

there is plant a tree over the ashes. .

There are many ways to dispose of ashes after cremation. . . and they don't have to involve money. .

Full body donation - No cost to you
 

Urns and ashes
 

Reminds me of the broken blue and white urn I used to see regularly on my Pompano Beach shore dives. I was thinking more of skipping the fire part. Waste of protein. Lots of cute scavengers out there.

If you wish to donate your body to science you need to determine which scientific institution you want in to go to. There are forms to complete which I am sure are available online. I only know because a friend of mine who has no family not married or had children went with this option.

My husband and I just signed up for cremation with Coast To Coast Cremations. They give you a card with a number for your next of kin to call and they will take care of everything for your family. This includes picking up the body, getting death certificates, the cremation, notifications to Social Security. We thought it was reasonably priced, and it takes the burden of what to do, in our families time of grief, off of the family.

As someone with a vertebra from another person in my neck, I applaud those who donate what is left behind after they pass.
Thanks to all who give of themselves to help others. It matters