In Ontario, Canada water cremation (Alkaline Hydrolysis) has been under review after regulators froze the license of a funeral home in Newcastle with a low-temperature water aquamation machine. The Canadian regulatory institution Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO) wanted additional evidence…
Only 2% of the Indian population have access to palliative care
With only a small fraction of patients being treated, local Indian health organizations decided to team up to help inform the local palliative patients, their families, and health care professionals about the benefits of palliative care. Celebrating World Hospice and…
Funding shortages in the UK are forcing hospices to close
Hospices, largely funded by charities, are foreclosing and more will follow if no measures will be taken. Staff Shortages The Observer revealed that UK’s National Health Services is battling staff and funding shortages. Currently 3,500 hospice care professionals are needed…
Portugal’s fifth crematory to be opened in September 2020
In southern Europe, cremations are slowly gaining favor . Traditionally countries, with strong Catholic or Orthodox backgrounds, like Greece, Spain, Italy and Portugal have buried the deceased. However, times are changing with Greece recently opening its first crematorium and Portugal…
Jerusalem digs deep for new burial grounds
Jerusalem is a small and highly demanded location to be buried in, not only for locals, but religious people around the world. Unfortunately there just isn’t enough space to meet the global demand. Jerusalem’s biggest Jewish cemetery, hosting over 250,000…
Krueger family funeral home connects to the local community by sponsoring life saving initiatives
In Tomahawk, Winsconson, United States funeral director Karen Gauerke of the Krueger Family Funeral Home helps to save lives in the local community. The funeral home has a history of helping the community. Karen’s grandfather who started the funeral home…
Greece opens the country’s first ever cremation facility
It’s hard to imagine, but just a few short months ago if you passed away in Greece and wanted to be cremated the only option available was to travel to Bulgaria. A minimum seven hour drive from Athens to the…
Japanese save thousands buying plots before tax increase kicks in
Japan is increasing the tax rate and Japanese consumers are trying to save, where they can, on long term purchases including death care packages for themselves and their families. Japan´s massive debt To pay down the country’s massive debt and…
New virtual reality program encourages multidisciplinary approach in palliative care
Tufts University is the process of testing a new pilot VR program to help create collaboration within the hospital setting. They are especially interested in using this for palliative care where care providers can benefit from InterProfessional Education (IPE) to…
Paris opens first green cemetery
Parisians will now be able to reduce their carbon footprints even after death: A 17,000-square-foot section with 150 green-burial plots has opened in the Southern suburb of Ivry-sur-Seine. It is part of the larger City of Paris Cemetery in Ivry-sur-Seine,…