IFP SOCIAL WORKERS
From the Desk of Blair Overton:
This page is to assist Social Workers and related end of life caregivers with good information to assist with the care of those families in Hospice care. Please know that I am available at any time to answer any questions that you may have on behalf of a family. I can be reached at 515-278-4633
DESIGNEE FOR FINAL DISPOSITION
This is the document that allows a family member to have “POA” type authority to make decisions on final disposition. It can be executed as a stand alone document with the signature of the person who is to pass away along with a notary or two witnesses. Feel free to contact us with any additional questions, or the current POA can call the attorney who issued the POA document.
Here is a flyer that has been created to give to a family to explain the document POA Designee flyer
Here is the Iowa Bar Associations Designee for Final Disposition Designee disposition 2017
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
The first question to ask is the person a Veteran. If they are a Veteran then assistance will come from the Commissioner of Veteran Affairs at the County level. If the person to pass away is not a Veteran then assistance will come from General Relief at the County level.
There is not a Federal or State Agency that will assist with funeral or cremation expense.
The County with jurisdiction for both is the county where the person who is to pass away resides.
Each County, for both Veteran & General assistance, has their own levels of assistance and protocols for application.
A rule of thumb is to contact a funeral provider in the County where the assistance will come from. They are more versed in the rules and procedures for helping the family obtain the assistance.
Polk County Veteran Assistance; https://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/veteranaffairs/
Polk County Veteran Affairs application; Polk Co VA Assistance Application
Polk County General Relief assistance application for direct cremation; Polk County Assistance Cremation Application
Polk County Veteran and General assistance will sometimes look at an application prior to death, but it is intended to be applied for after death.
REQUESTED COST ESTIMATES FOR CREMATION & TRADITIONAL FUNERALS
The Cremation Society of Iowa and Brooks Funeral Care are our lower-cost options in the marketplace, and these brochures can assist in those discussions. You can at least show the family where prices begin, with the knowledge that there will be other options but this gives them an entry-level idea of expense.
The following flyer is a traditional funeral package that allows for a funeral, casket and outer burial container from our Brooks Funeral Care Entity. These prices will apply to anyone who lives within 30 miles of Des Moines: Brooks Traditional Packages
This flyer is from The Cremation Society of Iowa and gives easy to understand costs for the 3 most frequent service request types, these prices serve the greater Des Moines area: Cremation Society of Iowa packages with referral savings
The Cremation Society serves all of central Iowa, this interactive map can provide the cost for a simple cremation calculated by where the person will pass away. Click on the shaded area where the person will pass away for the price; pricing map
As always, consultations with one of our funeral directors is available and free of charge. We do not have a problem with coming to their home, care center or hospice.
Additional pricing information is always available to you or the family, simply request.
REFERAL SAVINGS
We offer a 10% discount off the services selected by families if they are referred to us by a professional end of life caregiver. This flyer is a resource for you regarding our referral program.
It is important that the family tells us they were referred, we do not require proof, just knowledge that they have been referred.
HELPFUL DOCUMENTS
Here is a form to capture information for the Iowa Death Certificate: Iowa Death Certificate Worksheet
Here is the link to the Iowa Veteran Cemetery application forms: Iowa Veteran Cemetery eligibility
We are a Neptune Provider, if the person in your care has a Neptune Cremation Contract, we will honor the contract. Simply call us when death occurs.
In Person
4400 Merle Hay Rd
Des Moines, IA 50310