According to available statistics, majority of deaths in the US occur in institutions with sixty percent occurring in hospitals and 17 percent in nursing homes. Many of the seniors who pass away in nursing homes may not have estates to take care of the burial expenses. Under such circumstances, the cost of the burial services is born by the family members of the elderly.

Unfortunately burial cost for elderly in nursing home with no estate is an expensive affair for the family members taking the responsibility. It is estimated that an open casket service and a burial will end up costing anywhere from $5,000 to $6,000, and this amount may be too much at times for the family bear.

However, there are instances when the family is unable to take the burden of burial costs. In such circumstances, the state steps in pays for the cost. In most states the reimbursement for indigent funerals is around $1,100, but this amount ends up costing the funeral homes as they lose money. A typical low cost burial in the US costs around $3,000. Hence, many funeral homes are now pushing for the passage of a bill that will ensure that funeral associated costs for indigent burials are brought down by way of cremation. A standard cremation that includes a cardboard box, fees of the medical examiner and transportation is less than $1,000.

So, if elders who pass away in nursing homes without estate, the burial costs are usually born by the family members. However, if the family does not have the means to pay or is not willing to pay the high cost, the onus of the burial falls on the state government, or the local authorities. At the same time, state governments and local authorities are not very enthusiastic about spending this money. When the local authority takes care of the burial of an elderly who has died in a nursing home without an estate, a fixed amount is reimbursed. However, this amount usually does not cover the actual expense of the burial. Also, some states like Ohio and Washington have done away with the reimbursement to local authorities. In such states, the funeral homes have to give the deceased a burial, but at a loss.

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