Immediately following the death of a loved one, you may feel “numb” and have difficulty concentrating. Many family members often ask, “What do I do now?”  At the time of death, your Hospice team is available to provide care, to assist you and support you.

What Your Hospice Team May Do at the Time of Death

Please call Suburban Hospice, Inc. immediately at 833-888-7222 if you feel your loved one has made a change in their physical or mental condition, is in the dying process, or has died. Some of the things your Hospice team may do when your loved one has died include:

• The Hospice nurse will pronounce the death. He/she will check for the absence of a pulse, heartbeat, respiration, and blood pressure to determine the time of death.
• Your Hospice nurse may remove all tubes if needed, such as a catheter.
• Your Hospice team member will bathe and dress your loved one if you wish. You may be asked if you would like to participate in the bathing.  We encourage you to participate only if you are comfortable doing so. Your Hospice team member will also ask you if there is any special clothing you would like your loved one dressed in.  If you are planning a funeral or memorial service, the clothing for the service may be given to the funeral home at time of removal or taken to the funeral home at another time.  Our Hospice chaplain is available to assist with funeral or memorial service planning.
• Your Hospice team member will give you time alone with your loved one. Take as much time as you need to say goodbye.
• Your Hospice nurse will call to have the medical equipment, such as a bed or wheelchair, removed on the following business day.
• Your Hospice team member will call the doctor and other Hospice team members who have cared for you and your loved one to let them know about the death.
• After the death, there are often phone calls to make to family and friends. Your Hospice team member may ask you if you would like them to make the phone calls or assist you with the phone calls.
• Your Hospice nurse will instruct you on how to destroy the patient’s medication, usually done by mixing drug with detergent and throwing away, some may be destroyed by flushing.
• Your Hospice team may assist you with calling the funeral home to remove the body when ready. The funeral home will assist you in making arrangements if preplanned funeral arrangements have not been made.
• Even after the death, your Hospice team will still stay in contact with you for a year or more. They are available to you to assist you with your grief or other concerns you may have.  After the death, hospice personnel will contact you to see how you are doing.
• After the death of your loved one, there may be other calls to make. Some agencies, organizations, and personal services may need to know the date of your loved one’s death.  In most cases, the funeral home provides death certificates and information about those organizations and agencies that need to be notified as soon as possible.  Some of these notification calls may include:

 insurance companies

 medical insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, etc.

 social security

 pension plans

 Veterans administration

 credit card companies

 creditors

 attorney

 executor or estate

 accountant

 religious community, such as your church, synagogue, etc.

 employer/former employer

 clubs, fraternal organizations, professional groups

 bank

 investment companies

 mortgage companies

 government offices, including the Internal Revenue Service

Please feel free to call your Suburban Hospice, Inc. at 833-888-7222 at any time after the death of your loved one. You are not alone. Your Hospice team is available to you if you have questions, need to talk, or have other concerns.