Coronavirus and the Death Care Industry in Colorado
As the Coronavirus pandemic continues to affect day-to-day life for citizens across the country, many are looking locally to support their neighbors, community members and other essential employees during a time of emergency.
On March 25, Gov. Jared Polis issued an order for all Colorado citizens to stay at home to slow the spread of the highly contagious virus. The number of cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the Coronavirus, continues to rise in Colorado, and local businesses are scrambling to figure out how to prepare for the coming weeks.
But while other companies are taking time off, the businesses that care for the dead and their grieving families can’t just shut down temporarily.
Onda Estep, the director of operations at Denver’s historic Fairmount Cemetery, has had to move quickly to implement changes based on restrictions set by government officials that change almost daily.
The process of taking care of someone hasn’t specifically been impacted by the outbreak of COVID-19, but guidelines limiting the number of people who can gather in one place has changed the way a family can celebrate a loved one’s life. As a funeral home, crematory and cemetery, Fairmount Cemetery Company typically offers a number of services to celebrate a loved one’s life, but there are currently only three options for people to choose from, all of which limit the family’s ability to mourn, she says.
At the moment, there are several hindrances when handling a death, the prime concern for Fairmount Cemetery is sanitation and cleanliness. Some of the limitations are to err on the side of caution for the grounds crew who could possibly be infected during graveside ceremonies.
“The fear for us, is those family members that were around the infected loved one,” Estep said. “We’re more afraid of the living, than we are of the dead.”
For those in the death care industry, the fear of being infected is a consistent feeling. Estep says her team has never had to consider coworkers being at risk for spreading a virus or infection. The Fairmount employees have different days of attendance, to keep health and safety as a number one priority and enacted more policies so they can continue to serve the families of Denver.
Right now, there is a decrease in foot traffic at the cemetery, which is a large driver of burial plots, cremation spaces and memorial sales. Estep believes there will be an increase in the number of people who decide to pre-plan for their own cemetery property, which will benefit the prosperity of the business throughout the rest of the year.
“Death is one of the guarantees in life, yet that’s the last thing we want to talk about,” she said. “Unfortunately, it does take something like this to bring it back to their attention and see the importance of it.”
If people experience a COVID-19 related death during this time, they will see the value in having everything pre-planned, she added. Because of a global pandemic, people will continue to have the “what if’s” on mind and reach out to the death care industry once the present threat of emergency has subsided.
While Fairmount Cemetery, a 280-acre operation is intentionally slowing operations for the time being, Seven Stones, a smaller, botanical garden cemetery in Littleton, Colorado, continues to provide for their clients but is leaning more heavily on technology to contact families.
Rebecca Holm, the director of customer care at Seven Stones, and her staff acknowledge and abide by the restrictions set in place by the Colorado government officials, yet still try their best to care for people and their loved ones in this time of uncertainty.
“If someone has an immediate need, our whole goal is to make their hearts at ease with their decision,” Holm said.
Seven Stones integrates a botanic garden that provides multiple options for a final resting place—including cremation, green burials or casketed burials—all surrounded by the nature of the front range. It caters to a less traditional crowd that may be more comfortable with transacting business in an up-and-coming way.
Though in-person appointments have lessened due to state stay-at-home requirements, the use of technology has allowed Holm to conference virtually and digitally with clients. Holm and her staff are not opposed to meeting face-to-face with families, using the correct precautions and taking advantage of the surrounding outdoor area.
While Estep has noticed foot traffic and sales at Fairmount Cemetery has decreased in the past weeks, Holm believes that at Seven Stones, visitors need a leisurely outdoor escape from their current reality.
According to The New York Times, as of April 2, there are at least 80 Coronavirus linked deaths in the state of Colorado. The Business Insider reported that the current global death rate is 4.4 percent of patients. Holm is hoping Colorado does not see a spike in COVID-19 related deaths but said the capacity in the Colorado death care industry can accommodate a surge, should things get worse.
Estep agrees, knowing now that the world gets a peek into their everyday life, “Just because something’s going on doesn’t mean we can stop working, I mean people don’t stop dying,” she said.
Holm and Estep are experts in dealing with difficult situations; supporting the families who lose loved ones on a regular basis. Now, dealing with a global pandemic, the rest of the world can recognize the death care industry is an essential service that is necessary for state-wide emergencies such as the Coronavirus pandemic.
“I think it’s just a wake-up call to how vulnerable we all are, how connected we all are, and it gets us back to what’s really important,” Holm said. “When you start taking things away, you start to realize how much you really have and how grateful we all should be for the things we do have.”
Sidebar:
COVID-19 Fast Facts: How you can help slow the spread, contribute to businesses and stay safe in your community.
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment: Here you can find information only related to Colorado. Information includes public areas, testing locations, frequently asked questions and a symptom self-checker. The webpage is updated every day at 4 p.m.
CDC Resources for Households: On this website, you can find information on how to disinfect and clean your household items properly. It also includes hand washing hygiene and other preventative measures.
What is considered an essential business: This article outlines the specific guidelines for Denver residents after Mayor Michael Handcock enacted a stay-at-home order. Pot shops and liquor stores were changed to essential businesses after many flocked to the stores, doing the opposite of the social distancing goal.
Coronavirus cases by the numbers: This website includes data concerning Coronavirus cases across the country. This can be helpful in seeing the state-by-state breakdown and how the virus has increased across a month-long timeline.
How you can help locally and nationwide: There are many ways that you can help while in self-quarantine. Besides just staying inside, you can donate food, money and supplies to local and national nonprofits, small businesses and senior citizens.
Sources:
● https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/colorado-coronavirus-cases.html
● https://www.fairmountfuneralhome.com/who-we-are/fairmount-cemetery