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Dementia and Humanity: Funeral Directors’ Knowledge and Understanding

What You Will Learn

  • Funeral directors will recognize effective ways to engage and communicate with individuals living with dementia.
  • Funeral directors will understand their role as a supportive resource for families caring for a loved one with dementia.
  • Funeral directors will explore strategies to assist families in sharing news of a significant loss with a loved one who has dementia.

Share this program:

What You Will Learn

  • Funeral directors will recognize effective ways to engage and communicate with individuals living with dementia.
  • Funeral directors will understand their role as a supportive resource for families caring for a loved one with dementia.
  • Funeral directors will explore strategies to assist families in sharing news of a significant loss with a loved one who has dementia.

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Price

$45 for OFDA Member
$65 for OFDA Non-Member

60 minutes
Date Published

July 24, 2025

Publisher

Ohio Funeral Directors Association

Subjects

Funeral Directing, Funeral Service

Questions

For immediate assistance please consult our FAQ page. If you're unable to find the answer you need, please call 737-201-2059 (M-F, 8am-6pm CT) or e-mail customer service.

Summary

As dementia diagnoses continue to rise, funeral professionals increasingly encounter families struggling with how to involve a loved one with cognitive impairment in the grieving process. This seminar equips funeral directors with the knowledge and tools to support families facing these challenges with empathy and expertise.

Attendees will gain practical strategies for interacting with individuals with dementia, guiding families on how to communicate a death, and managing emotional responses. Key topics include understanding dementia, assessing the need for support in delivering difficult news, and determining whether a person with dementia should attend a funeral or memorial service.

By developing these essential skills, funeral directors can enhance their role as compassionate resources for families, helping them make informed decisions during a difficult time. This training not only strengthens client trust and satisfaction but also reinforces the funeral home’s reputation for exceptional care, fostering lasting relationships within the community.

SWOD-25423

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Presenters

Marc Markell, Ph.D., CT
Professor Emeritus / Presenter / Certified in Death and Grief Studies / Certified Thanatologist / Certified Celebrant: Life Tribute Professional

Marc Markell teaches at Worsham College of Mortuary Science and Edgewood College; he is also a professor emeritus at St.... Read More

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Program Titles and Supporting Materials

This program contains the following components:

Media Files
Replay of Dementia and Humanity: Funeral Directors’ Knowledge and Understanding
Downloadable Files
OFDA Dementia Presentation
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Credit

If applicable, you may obtain credit in multiple jurisdictions simultaneously for this program (see pending/approved list below). If electing credit for this program, registrants in jurisdictions not listed below will receive a Certificate of Completion that may or may not meet credit requirements in other jurisdictions. Where applicable, credit will be only awarded to a paid registrant completing all the requirements of the program as determined by the selected accreditation authority.

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How to Attend

Join the self-paced program from your office, home, or hotel room using a computer and high speed internet connection. You may start and stop the program at your convenience, continue where you left off, and review supporting materials as often as you like. Please note: Internet Explorer is no longer a supported browser. We recommend using Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Safari for best results.

Technical Requirements
You may access this course on a computer or mobile device with high speed internet (iPhones require iOS 10 or higher). Recommended browsers are Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.

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SeminarWeb and Ohio Funeral Directors Association programs are non-refundable.

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