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What To Do When A Loved One Dies At Home

When a loved one dies in the home, many people are unsure of what to do even if the death was expected. This guide will give you clear steps so you’ll know exactly what you need to do:

Who To Call First

In the case of an unexpected death, call 911 immediately. If your loved one had an order not to resuscitate (DNR), be sure to have it on hand or paramedics will take them to the hospital and try to resuscitate them. Those who don’t have access to emergency services should call a doctor immediately. Failing that, you can call the local coroner’s office. Unexpected and unexplained deaths may be looked into by the chief medical examiner.

In the case of an expected death, the circumstances are not considered to be an emergency and you don’t have to call 911. You should call the doctor who was taking care of your loved one. If they are unavailable, you can call the local coroner. In the case of an expected death, it’s good to remember that you don’t need to call someone right away. Take the time you need to process.

Who To Call Next

More often than not, the person who you called first will help you arrange for the transportation of the body but if not, you can call a mortuary. Once the coroner’s office and the person’s doctor have been contacted (if they haven’t already been), you can call close friends and family to inform them of the death. Don’t feel the need to call everyone yourself. Now is a good time to ask for help from the people around you. They can contact other people to them know what has happened and be supportive in other ways.

What Happens Next

For a death that occurred in your loved one’s home, but not your home, you’ll need to make arrangements to have someone take care of the house - collecting mail, throwing out old food, and the like. You’ll next want to begin to arrange the funeral. You can contact our funeral home in Roblin at any time of day or night, any day of the year - we’re here for you 24/7.

There are organizations that your loved one may have been a part of who might support the funeral, financially or in other ways, Religious groups, the military, or other orders are often involved in funerals and making contact with them can be quite helpful. Be sure to look into any funeral arrangements your loved one may have made in advance, as well. There are other things to do once these arrangements have been made, but you won’t have to take care of them right away. Should you have any questions about any of the steps we just outlined, don’t hesitate to give us a call; we’re here to support you with whatever you need and whenever you need it.