When someone dies at home, what you do first depends mainly on one question: was the death expected, and was the person under hospice care?
If there is any chance the person is still alive, or the death was sudden, violent or unexplained, call 911 now and follow the dispatcher’s instructions.
If the person was under hospice care
Call the hospice agency’s 24-hour number. Do not call 911. A hospice nurse will come to the home, confirm the death and contact the physician. Hospice staff are experienced with this and can help you with what comes next, including how to dispose of medications.
When you are ready, tell the nurse which funeral home you have chosen. The nurse or the family calls the funeral home, which arranges to bring your loved one into its care. There is normally no need to rush; many families take time to sit together and call relatives first.
If the death was expected but hospice was not involved
Call 911 and explain that the death appears to be expected, that the person was seriously ill and was not under hospice care. Emergency responders and possibly law enforcement will come to the home. This is routine; it is how deaths outside a medical setting are reported.
It helps to have ready:
- the name and phone number of the person’s doctor,
- a list of medications and medical conditions,
- any advance directive or Do Not Resuscitate order (Florida uses a specific DNRO form).
Depending on the circumstances, the doctor may agree to certify the death, or the medical examiner may need to review it. The funeral home can take your loved one into its care once the death has been properly reported and released.
If the death was unexpected
Call 911 immediately and do not move the person or disturb the surroundings unless the dispatcher asks you to. Florida law gives the district medical examiner jurisdiction over certain deaths, including sudden deaths of people who appeared to be in good health, deaths from accidents or violence, and deaths not attended by a physician. See our guide to an unexpected death in Florida.
Choosing the funeral home
You can choose any licensed funeral home; the hospice, police or medical examiner will not choose one for you. If the person had a pre-need contract, call the funeral home named in it. When you call, the funeral home will ask:
- the person’s name and the address,
- whether hospice or a doctor has been involved,
- your name, phone number and relationship to the person,
- whether you already know if you want burial or cremation (you can decide later).
The funeral home will then arrange a time to transfer your loved one and set up an arrangement meeting. You can ask for the General Price List at any time; see your rights when planning a funeral.
After your loved one has been taken into care
- Secure the home, keys, valuables and vehicles; arrange care for pets.
- Look for written funeral wishes, a will, a pre-need contract and life insurance policies.
- Gather the information needed for the death certificate. See documents a funeral home may need.
- Build a personal planning checklist.
This page is not medical advice. In an emergency, or if you are unsure whether someone has died, call 911. Editorial policy.