Have you thought about what to do with your body when you die? More Americans are choosing cremation over traditional burials, says a new survey.
A new report by insurance firm Choice Mutual found 44% of Americans plan on being cremated, a 40% increase from the 1960s. Traditional burials were the second most popular choice, with 35% of Americans preferring the method.
Choice Mutual surveyed 1,500 people in the U.S. on their burial preferences and practices.
Other burial preferences include donating their bodies to science at 6% and natural burials – being buried without a casket in the ground – at 4%.
"People donate their bodies to science now because they want to help improve medical practices and with the eco-friendly burials people are a lot more conscious of the environment," said Morgen Henderson, researcher at Choice Mutual, in a statement.
Americans are also opting for more unique arrangements for their cremated remains, including launching them into space or having them compressed into a diamond.
The most popular option among Americans was having their ashes spread in a specific location (40%), followed by their ashes being kept by a family member (36%). One in 10 Americans who plan to be cremated want to be planted as a tree.
As burial preferences have changed significantly over the years, more Americans are shifting towards more non-traditional plans such as sea burial or plastination, a process that involves removing all fluids from the body and replacing it with a polymer or plastic-like substance.
"With the improvements and developments in technology that has opened up a lot of different burial options," said Henderson.
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Burial Preferences: Cremation is making death a little cheaper
These alternative burial methods aren't cheap, however.
The costliest, mummification, which involves the preservation of the skin and the flesh of a corpse, starts at $67,000, says Choice Mutual. By contrast, the average cost for traditional burials is $7,360 which doesn't include a burial plot or headstone. Cremations start at $6,260, but do not include viewing or memorial services.
And, for those looking to be frozen rather than burned, Cryonics – freezing the body to a temperature low enough that it won’t decompose – starts at an average cost of $28,000.
The survey found 47% of Americans opt for burial plans based on personal beliefs, while 24% say family traditions influence their decision. Only 14% of Americans ascribe financial reasons as the determining factor for their choice.
The choices vary across generations, with family traditions becoming increasingly more important to younger generations while financial reasons are more important to older generations, said the survey.
According to a report by National Funeral Directors Association, 62.5% of Americans felt it was very important to communicate their funeral plans and wishes to family members prior to their own death, yet only 21.4% had done so.
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January 22, 2020 at 02:27AM
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More Americans are choosing cremation over traditional burials, survey finds - USA TODAY
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