Oregon sees rise in unclaimed, indigent remains

From 2021 to 2024, the Oregon Mortuary and Cemetery Board, the state agency that oversees death care, saw a whopping 79% increase in repayment claims from funeral homes for indigent remains.

Indigent remains are the bodies that go unclaimed, have no next of kin or lack financial means for the handling of the body that may have been left in the deceased's will. Oregon is one of a few states that have an established program to reimburse funeral homes for handling these cases. The number of funeral homes that received payment has also seen a big increase, with a rise of about 114% since 2021. The program is not meant for everyday Oregonians who cannot afford a funeral or other services, but for those whose wishes after death are unknown or uncertain.

Chad Dresselhause is the executive director of the Oregon Mortuary and Cemetery Board. Wally Orderman is the executive director of the Oregon Funeral Directors Association. They both join us to share what this increase has meant for the state and what it means for the individual funeral homes that take on these cases.