What is a standard every endowment care cemetery must follow?

In the context of endowment care cemeteries, having maintenance standards to prevent offensive deterioration is crucial. This requirement ensures that the grounds and facilities are kept in a condition that is respectful to the deceased and comforting to the families visiting their loved ones. Endowment care cemeteries are established with the intent of providing perpetual care and maintenance through the funds generated from endowments, which underscores the importance of maintaining the aesthetic and physical integrity of the site.

Preventing deterioration not only preserves the dignity of the burial grounds but also instills confidence in families that their loved ones' resting places will be cared for over time. This might include regular upkeep of landscaping, pathways, and facilities to ensure that the cemetery remains a peaceful and pristine environment, safeguarding against neglect and decline.

While maintaining strict hours of operation is beneficial to the functionality of the cemetery, and minimizing the number of graves or restricting alterations to rules may serve specific administrative purposes, they do not align as directly with the core requirement of ensuring the long-term care and respect for the cemetery grounds, which is the primary focus of endowment care standards.