Dying Broke: Indigent Burials And Cremations Increasing

The weak economy has made life more difficult for many of us. As it turns out it isn't making death any easier either.

Increasing numbers of people in northern Nevada are dying without the means to pay for their final disposition.

When that happens county social services has to step in.

"We serve the indigent," says Washoe County Social Services Director Kevin Schiller and at the end of the day that population has a life span and it fits our mission."

It's a growing line item in Schiller's budget, doubling in the past three years, now averaging over 400 cases a year.

"I think the economy is contributing significantly," says Schiller, "and I think the other piece is our growing senior population."

Each case is different, of course. Those needing help on this final step may have been living here alone, far from even the most distant relatives.

"Often the family has had no contact with a loved one or it's a distant relative," says Paul Noell who manages O'Brien Rogers and Crosby and Ross, Burke and Knobel funeral homes.

"It could be someone living in a weekly motel for example. It could be a senior citizen just getting by on their rent," adds Schiller.

And if they die with less than $1064 dollars in cash or a thousand in assets, they qualify for county assistance. Legally the family can't be held responsible. Often they are unable.

"We see more and more families that are struggling." says Noell. "They've lost jobs and they are unable to take care of those arrangments."

Most often these cases end in cremation, no frills, no service $500. Burial costs $300 more and is sometimes necessary for religious or cultural reasons.

Cremation was a long established trend in western states even before the recession, but the economy is pushing more toward that option, even among families who can afford to pay.

"People are price shopping," notes Noell, who says cremations now account for 70 to 80% of the business in Nevada, one of the highest rates in the nation.

For the indigent cases, cremation has one other consequence for the funeral home. If no family is present to take the ashes, what happens to them?

After some time the law apparently allows them to be placed in a community vault, but Noell"s employer, which also operates Walton and Ross, Burke and Knobel funeral homes, chooses to store them in a secure facility. A computerized data base keeps track of which container belongs to whom.

There literally thousands sit, apparently in perpetuity, in case a relative comes looking for them, which we're told very occasionally happens.

More are added each year and it's likely the number of those who need help after death will continue to rise.

Source: http://www.kolotv.com/home/headlines/Dying_Broke_Indigent_Burials_And_Cremations_Increasing_130890098.html

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