Bodycare & Cooling

How to Care for the Body

The ways that we care for a body change depending on culture, location of death, time of year, access to cooling devices, condition of the body, type of death, our relationship to the person that died, the relationship between us and who we are doing the work with, and even how we feel in the moment.

This is a non-exhaustive list of the factors that may influence how a community cares for the body. There is no right or wrong way. Care of the body can engage our hearts, minds, bodies and spirits in a compassionate fashion and can help to facilitate healthy grief processes. The purpose of preparing the body is to present the body in a way that honors the individual according to the individual’s wishes, as well as the needs of the mourners involved in the care of the body.

The idea of providing bodycare may be uncomfortable for many people. Because many in the United States have become so culturally alienated from caring for our dead, this is understandable. Those who do elect to participate in bodycare often find that it is not the mysterious and technically challenging undertaking it is made out to be.

There are conditions that can affect the state of the body that people may want to take into account when considering when to start bodycare. Some conditions include:

Location in the house, such as proximity to a window
The number of people who will be in the room
Rigor mortis or injury
Whether or not you are cooling the body, access to refrigeration, air conditioning, or a
freezer for ice, frozen vegetables, or a freezer pack
When the disposition is going to take place and where, etc.

Early Care

Rigor Mortis

Also known as stiffening of the joints and muscles, rigor mortis typically sets in within the ﬁrst few hours, though it does not happen in all cases. The degree to which rigor mortis is present varies from person to person and can be influenced by body composition and cause of death.

Rigor mortis can affect the mobility of the limbs and the ease of moving the body. It may be easier to bathe and dress the body within the first few hours after death. Sometimes people choose to wait for rigor mortis to pass to begin care, which typically happens after 24 hours, but can vary from 12-48 hours. If it is not possible to wait for rigor to pass, you can still care for the body.

Small muscles are the first parts of the body to become stiff, so it is best to tend to the eyes, mouth, and hands first, when possible. Hands also curl and retract, especially in children. Gentle massage of the muscles and joints of stiff limbs can help ease them into a different position.

Oral Care

Oral care is an important step for decreasing bacterial growth in the mouth that causes odor similar to morning breath. You can use a wet wipe or washcloth to sweep large particles from the mouth first (be gentle, as oral tissue is fragile). You may choose to floss and brush the teeth with a soft toothbrush, using a very small amount of toothpaste (since the decedent can’t rinse and spit).

You can also use a cotton swab dipped in mouthwash, vinegar, or an antiseptic/antibacterial essential oil (e.g. lavender, rosemary, or tea tree) to clean the mouth and tongue. It is helpful to dry the mouth, teeth, and tongue after cleaning them using cotton balls or a cloth. If it is difficult to open the mouth, or oral care would be unpleasant, it is okay to skip this.

Many people choose to leave out dentures; however, if they are placed in the mouth, they can be rinsed in a denture cleaning solution and replaced inside the clean, dry mouth. It may be difficult to put them in the mouth during rigor mortis. Dentures may need to be removed prior to certain disposition options like natural burial, natural organic reduction (composting), or water cremation, in which case you may choose to simply leave them out.

The mouth and face tend to look more natural, or more consistent to the way we are used to seeing the person, with dentures in. Lips can become dry. You can use petroleum-based ointments, moisturizing oil, or lip balm to moisturize. As the body ages, and in death, lips may change in color and plumpness, altering their appearance. If the deceased normally wore lipstick, it could be lightly applied and layered, as desired.

If the mouth is open and you wish for it to remain closed, you can try one of the following methods:

Head Wrap: Use a necktie or long piece of non-slippery material like a scarf or cloth Ace-type bandage tied around the head to hold the jaw shut. Place the middle of the tie under the chin/jaw, then bring the ends to the top of the head and tie a knot. A second person is helpful here to support the jaw to keep the mouth closed while the knot is being tied. Keep the tie in place until the mouth remains closed without it. The time varies on this, though it usually takes 1-2 hours. Note that this method may leave an imprint on the skin and tousle the hair. To reduce skin indentations, smooth the scarf/bandage as much as possible.
Towel Roll: A rolled up towel can be placed under the chin until the jaw stays closed without the towel in place. You may also use the towel method with the head wrap method to further support the jaw staying closed. Some people may choose to leave the towel or wrap in place for the duration of the home funeral.
Dental Tie: If the person has teeth, you can use a piece of dental floss for a dental tie. Tie the floss around one of the front top teeth, tie another piece around a front bottom tooth, and then tie the two pieces together. This technique can be seen in our "Dental tie mouth closure demonstration" video on YouTube.

Eyes

If the eyes remain open after death and you want them closed, ensure they are clean and dry, then try one of the following methods for closing. Moisturizing the eyelids prior to closing them can help make them more pliable if the person was or is becoming dehydrated.

Using Weights: Gently bring the eyelids down over the eyes and place a small bag, weighted eye pillow, or bags filled with something like rice or sand over the eyes. Keep them in place until the lids remain closed, usually for a couple of hours. If the eyes don’t stay closed and you prefer not to have them open, you can leave the weights in place or drape a scarf across them.
Using Cotton: Pull some small pieces off the head of a Q-tip or a cotton ball, elongate the cotton, and place it directly on the eyeball to catch the lids and keep them shut. Lower the eyelid two-thirds of the way down, then bring up the lower lid to meet the upper lid. If the eyes don’t stay closed with the cotton alone, add vaseline to the cotton to help the eyelid grip onto the cotton.
Using Superglue: Funeral directors sometimes use superglue, so you can also try this if you are comfortable and having the eyelids remain closed is important to you. Apply a small amount of superglue to a toothpick, cosmetic brush, or the stem of a Q-tip with the cotton pulled off. Apply a thin layer of glue to the lower lid, then gently slide the top lid down the eye until the eyelids touch. Press the lids together with a small tool until they stick. Do not use your fingers. After death, the eyes flatten naturally as the fluid in them settles and dries up. As the eyes change shape, the lid position can change, and it is quite common for the eyes to appear slightly open. Using superglue will keep the lids together, but the change in shape may still be apparent. This is natural.

Later Care

Bathing

Bathing can be a symbolic gesture of tender, hands-on care as it is usually the last physical contact the community has with the deceased. It can be a simple act using soap and water, or it can be an elaborate ritual using essential oils, prayers, candles, and music. It can take place on a bed or a table, indoors or outdoors. It can involve the whole body or just parts of it, like the face and hands.

People often choose to bathe the body to prevent unpleasant sights and odors during the vigil. If the person was bathed regularly and thoroughly prior to death, minimal bathing after death may be necessary. Bathing after death can help delay the onset of decomposition by reducing the bacteria in the mouth, on the skin, and in the elimination tracts. Do not immerse the body or oversaturate it in water, as this can cause the skin to wrinkle. Unlike living tissue after a bath, the skin will not rehydrate.

If bathing isn’t an option, a gentle sanitizing spray may be used on the skin. Plants with antimicrobial properties such as thyme, bee balm, lavender, tea tree, oregano, myrrh, or sage can be used in this spray. You can learn more about these natural options in Michelle Sanders PDF guide, Plant Allies in Deathcare & Funeral Rites.

Decomposition rates and signs are dependent on many factors, including body type, age, cause of death, and temperature. Even industrial-strength embalming doesn’t always delay the onset of obvious decomposition such as odor, changes in color, and changes in shape/texture. In most cases, bathing and cooling is enough to prepare the body to be laid out for a few days. If bathing occurs on a bed or table, cover the area with protective materials (e.g. a plastic sheet, tarp, shower curtain, or incontinence pads). Once bathing is complete, you may move the body to where it will be viewed or spent time with (if that location is not the same as the spot in which it was bathed).

The items you use for this process can be everyday items that are used on a daily basis. Items used
for bathing and dressing may include:

wash basin
gloves
towels, washcloths
soap
hair care products
hair oil
shampoo and/or conditioner
hair dryer (for hair and body if needed)
fresh sheets and pillowcases
diapers/incontinence pads
essential oils
clothing/shroud/other covering

Bathing Steps

Consider where your water source is in relationship to the room the body will be bathed in. It can be helpful to bring water into the space before bathing to reduce trips to the water source and reduce the amount of time the body will be wet
Set up a work surface draped with a cloth to place your supplies
Fill a basin with warm water and a small amount of soap (use a soap bar if that’s what you have on hand). This basin can be as simple or ceremonial and meaningful as you wish. Adding essential oils or a favorite aftershave/perfume to the wash basin can be a lovely way to incorporate scent into the ritual of bodycare
Drape a towel or sheet across the torso of the person, covering their chest and genitals to preserve modesty. Uncover the person in sections as you go, and treat them with the same respect you would if they were alive, honoring the person’s own relationship with their body
Caring for the body after death is an intimate experience. There may be spiritual, cultural, or ethical concerns when touching different parts of the body like the head, the feet, or the genitals. Use these considerations to guide you in bodycare and in placement of ice
One way to present an inviting opportunity for others to participate is to pre-roll the wash cloths and have them already soaking in the bowl of water. Also, a helper (or helpers) can gently dry the recently washed areas as you go, using a blotting motion rather than rubbing
Use a washcloth dipped in the warm water to gently wash the person from head to toe, paying special attention to skin folds and creases where skin is touching skin

Cooling the Body

If keeping the body at home for less than 24 hours, turning on the air conditioner or opening windows to let cold air in may suffice. However, if the home funeral is to last for a number of days, other means may be necessary to keep the body cool in order to slow down the process of decomposition. Embalming is not required.

Some alternative cooling methods that may be utilized for home funerals include:

Techni-ice or other polymer refrigerants
Dry Ice
Cooling Vests or Towels
Gel Packs