Gurney cover for nusing home
 

Request for a gurney cover when body removed from nursing home. Any ideas as to size and pattern to use.

How kind of you to make this quilt for them.
It is something that is appreciated, not only by the family of the deceased, but by the staff involved and the other residents of the home. It's a nice warm touch at a difficult time for all.

They may have very specific requirements.
It's best to speak with your contact at the nursing home.

Here are some of the discussions that we had when I made the one in the link below.

Gurney size of course, will dictate the sizing, which they can measure for you.
Plus, how much drape is safe, so as not to cause problems when moving the gurney.
What are they using now? ... measure that and adjust to their requests.
Religious connotations may or may not be important to them.
Discuss colour.
They may have specific colours or depths of colour that they want ... or not want!
Laundering requirements will affect your choice of fabrics, batting, etc.

If it is their first "Passage Quilt" they may want it to be generic and for all ages.
If it is not their first, they may wish one more male oriented, or female, or child etc.
One Hospice that I know has an assortment, and tries to match the quilt to the person.
Eg. flowers for a gardener, a farm or country type for a farmer (yes, they even have a tractor quilt!),
teddy bear for a child, etc.

Here's a Passage Quilt that I made for our local Hospice.
https://www.quiltingboard.com/pictur...t-t179122.html

This is going to sound morbid but ...Check with your local funeral home. In our small town they are usually the ones that do the removals. If you don't want to do that let me know because I can get the measurements for you. My husband is a funeral director.

The Cremation Society of America used these types of quilts. Perhaps contact them?

Thanks for all the information. Will look into all

Thank you so much for your kindness in making these gurney quilts. Grieving families need compassion and any help we can give them is comforting to them.

I sew blocks for a charity that holds a block drive every 2 months & is similar to this except her quilts are actually given to the dying family member & then taken home by the family after the member has passed. These quilts are approx. 50" x 70". These are patients who have passed away in the hospital before they were able to use the beautiful benefits of Hospice. The hurting families are so very appreciative of this charity.

My dad was just wrapped in a queen size quilt. My son tried to buy it for me, and they wouldn't sell it to him. Bless his heart. He just wanted me to have it because......

Red, white and blue quilts for deceased veterans are used at our local funeral home.

This is such a timely posting. My quilt discussed this topic last evening. Our question was size. When I search "passage quilts" I find plenty of pictures and comments about grateful families but only two mentioned size 40 x60 and another 3 feet by 6 feet. My question is..............What size is the most useful?

I would use the 40 x 60 inch.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by carolynjo (Post 8117349)

I would use the 40 x 60 inch.

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I will say what I said earlier ... please contact the specific facility or organizations
that you are wanting to make it for before you start stitching.

Gurneys are not all that wide, and so the odd 3'x6' is not unheard of for a passage quilt.
Likewise for full coverage, they may very likely want more length to do the job.

It will depend on how they cover the body, i.e. tucking it in or draping over the sides, etc.


Each specific use and/or location may have different protocols.

It is best to check first before making on the sizes ....
and the other specifics that I mentioned in the earlier post.

When my sister passed away in 2014 they (Crematorium) did not bring a cover with them so they took one of her many quilts and used it. We never got it back.....maybe her husband was unconcerned about it, but I would have liked it for a sentimental reason.

The gurney they used for my dad had a depressed area for the body. You couldn't even see that there was a body there. It just looked like an empty gurney with a sheet over it.

I asked about that, and they said that it disturbed the other residents to see bodies being removed, so they used this type of gurney.

bkay

One of my guild members made contact with the local funeral director and he requested that passage quilts be twin size. We also discovered that he had been purchasing blankets for this purpose. He will have a selection of quilts in a few weeks from our group.

tulip 43 and quiltE, What is the final disposition of these quilts? I'd hate to see one cremated and I definitely would not want it to go home with some employee. Is there any way to have a say in this?

For the Hospice that I made mine for, the quilt is re-used with subsequent deaths.
It stays with the Hospice House.

Their procedures are that the quilt covers the body as it leaves the room, and out to an alcove before leaving the building. A remembrance candle has already been lit there, and will stay lit for the rest of the day. Here, the family has the opportunity for a final farewell before their loved one is put in the hearse and taken to the funeral home. It may be as simple as a few seconds or can be quite extensive, if that is of their desire. They may or may not have their minister with them, for prayers, blessings, etc. Again, as to their choosing. The Hospice staff have nothing to do with this, other than providing the opportunity. Staff who are available will attend to show their respects. In nice weather, it is held just through the doors, in a lovely open but roofed area, with amazing plants, shrubbery around.

Once the body is placed into the hearse, the funeral director removes the blanket, giving it back to a Hospice staff person.

Of course, this is only what happens at this Hospice House.
Other facilities, hospitals, nursing homes, etc. may have different procedures.

Before I made the quilt, I had met with the Residence Director of Care, to discuss all the details I outlined earlier in this thread. At the same time, she explained their intended use of the Passage Quilt and actually took me on a tour to show me the whole facility, as well as how/where the deceased leave their Home.

I SO believe in HH ... and it was just a little step that I could take to help them.

thanks for all your help on this topic. Quilt has been made and given to nursing home. Very much appreciated.