I had already picked out a mortuary for my dad when he died, and the hospice nurse called them. If the death was expected, there's no issue with calling the mortuary directly. Otherwise, call the non-emergency police number as others have said
(The part below is tough to read, so skip it if you want) . . . . . . . . .
My dad was in an upstairs bedroom when he died. We had been advised against that but weren't told why, but there really wasn't a good place downstairs with decent privacy, so we had a hospital bed put in a spare bedroom upstairs. What no one spelled out for me was that a mortuary gurney couldn't be taken up the stairs and make the sharp left turn at the top of the stairs to get to the bedroom. That meant that when Dad passed, my brother had to be drafted into helping the two mortuary attendants carry his body down the stairs to where the gurney was waiting. My dad had lost a lot of weight, but still, 150 pounds of literal "dead weight" was too much for two people to handle on a staircase, so my brother had to assist.
Please keep that in mind. If I had the physical strength to be the one to help, I would have done anything to prevent my brother from having that heartbreaking task.
Also, I helped the hospice nurse get my dad's body ready to go to the mortuary. One thing she did was roll up a bath towel and put it under his chin. People often pass with their mouth open, and it can be an upsetting sight. The towel kept that expression from becoming permanent and closed his mouth. I assume that was done with the thought that we might have had a viewing (we did not), and it helped him appear to be at peace.
If you think anyone in the family would want to see your loved one before their body is taken away, consider using the towel under the chin.
First let me say how very sorry I am for your loss. That is such a hard thing and we were here when they came to the house to take my dad. He was in a first floor bedroom and it was with ease. But it still the hardest thing I think I have ever been a part of.
But you have really opened my eyes to situation we have with FIL. For some reason we have all thought of what would happen if he had to be transported to the hospital but it didn't even occur to us to apply that to his passing - I honestly don't know why except that mental block. He is in an upstairs bedroom as well - with a full hospital bed set up. One set of stairs (there are probably 20+ stairs) is blocked by the chair lift (closest set) and the other is around sharp corner as you described. The caveat being that FIL is over 300 pounds. So now my wheels are spinning on this on how we could even possibly manage this even with a lot of help.
I'm so sorry that you had to go through that too and your brother. That is one of the hardest times in someone's lives and having things get more difficult and complex adds to the stress. Once again my condolences for your loss!
I ask, because depending upon where you live, you may need to report an "unattended death" to the authorities if hospice is not involved. Someone with the authority to do so much fill out the particulars for the death certificate.
I think after that, next of kin and the funeral home. I would try very hard NOT to be alone at the time of death.
State laws vary, so I would do a little research on your state's regulations.
I would also put this question to your elderly parent's doctor. Before my mom went on hospice, I specifically asked her cardiologist if he would sign off on mom's death certificate should she die at home. I had her DNR on hand, in case there were paramedics on the scene. In NY, if there is a doctor who is willing to sign off on the death certificate, you can call the funeral home directly. If there is no doctor to sign, then the body has to be removed to the county morgue until such a time that a doctor can be found who is willing to sign. In some cases, the county ME will conduct an autopsy to determine cause of death.
Since mom was on hospice when she passed, the hospice nurse verified the time of death and called the funeral home.
If your parent isn't in hospice, this is really something you should discuss with your parent's primary doctor. They should be able to guide you.
Here in the UK, I called my mother's GP and she arrived at our home within an hour to certify the death. The next call was to the undertakers (funeral directors), and I was told they would come first thing next day. So mother got to lie in peace in her own bed overnight, which was oddly comforting. The coroner's office rang me a few days later to run a few checks - we have a system set up after Harold Shipman so that even patients on their doctors' "don't be surprised if they die" list get the courtesy of an enquiry without the ordeal of a full inquest.
I have never heard of the PCP coming to a house to pronounce death. When I worked for a VNA our RNs could pronouce death. With my Dad it was Hospice with my Mom the NH nurse.
The death must be officially recorded, certified, and this means "pronounced" by doctor or nursing facility (hospice) in the United States. Then it is decided if or if not this is a coroner's case. There are many things that fall under that. Unexpected death, unexplained death, recent falls and etc. The doctor or pronouncing person in other cases such as hospice will help pass that hurdle. Body then goes to funeral home or stays in home for some time proscribed in some religions. An expected death of an Elder currently in care with a physician can be called to that person. If someone died unexpectedly the best call is to 911; they will decide who responds after questions that will indicate to them how long ago this person expired (meaning do they have to do heroic measures.) If this person did not want CPR perhaps wait a bit. Because a still warm body without a POLST hanging may be submitted to heroic measures.
Strange that i saw this tonight. As some of you know from my previous posts, Mom ( 90) just got out of the hospital about 10 days ago and my life has been a round of various home health visits since then, One visit I did not quite understand was from a home health NP about "her DNr". But I am so glad we had her come,, she was actually from Pallative Care. Not hospice which we are not ready for. She got Moms MOLST done,( Better than her living will) and will liasion with the hospital with us.. no more arguments with the hospital about the DNR,, just what mom wants for her comfort and to get her back home. Since she is now on their service we only need to call them ( 24 hours a day) and they will come out and pronounce her, then we just call the funeral home. So much less worry than 911, etc.
Please call EMS, they can write a death certificate. The police can not.
Related story: My grandmother had a week of not feeling well no fever, no infection symptoms, but kind of tired and dragged out. So, my mom made an appointment for Gram to see her primary care doctor. While sitting in the passenger seat in next to my mom, Mom noticed that Gram wasn't breathing - her dentures were kind of at half mast in her mouth. Mom tired to take the dentures out and Gram didn't flinch. Mom speed-dialed my sister (an RN who lived closer to Mom than I ever do) who said she would meet Mom at the doctor's office. My sister called Gram's doctor and also notified the staff when she and Mom's vehicles arrived. The doctor said Gram was indeed dead, but that he did not have the paperwork for a death certificate. Mom had to then drive Gram to the ER so that the people there could write a death certificate. They also allowed Gram to be put into their morgue until the funeral staff would come to collect her.
In hindsight, EMS could have come to the house and written a death certificate. Then, the funeral staff could have come to the house to collect Gram. It would have been faster and less expensive.
(The part below is tough to read, so skip it if you want)
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My dad was in an upstairs bedroom when he died. We had been advised against that but weren't told why, but there really wasn't a good place downstairs with decent privacy, so we had a hospital bed put in a spare bedroom upstairs. What no one spelled out for me was that a mortuary gurney couldn't be taken up the stairs and make the sharp left turn at the top of the stairs to get to the bedroom. That meant that when Dad passed, my brother had to be drafted into helping the two mortuary attendants carry his body down the stairs to where the gurney was waiting. My dad had lost a lot of weight, but still, 150 pounds of literal "dead weight" was too much for two people to handle on a staircase, so my brother had to assist.
Please keep that in mind. If I had the physical strength to be the one to help, I would have done anything to prevent my brother from having that heartbreaking task.
Also, I helped the hospice nurse get my dad's body ready to go to the mortuary. One thing she did was roll up a bath towel and put it under his chin. People often pass with their mouth open, and it can be an upsetting sight. The towel kept that expression from becoming permanent and closed his mouth. I assume that was done with the thought that we might have had a viewing (we did not), and it helped him appear to be at peace.
If you think anyone in the family would want to see your loved one before their body is taken away, consider using the towel under the chin.
But you have really opened my eyes to situation we have with FIL. For some reason we have all thought of what would happen if he had to be transported to the hospital but it didn't even occur to us to apply that to his passing - I honestly don't know why except that mental block. He is in an upstairs bedroom as well - with a full hospital bed set up. One set of stairs (there are probably 20+ stairs) is blocked by the chair lift (closest set) and the other is around sharp corner as you described. The caveat being that FIL is over 300 pounds. So now my wheels are spinning on this on how we could even possibly manage this even with a lot of help.
I'm so sorry that you had to go through that too and your brother. That is one of the hardest times in someone's lives and having things get more difficult and complex adds to the stress. Once again my condolences for your loss!
I ask, because depending upon where you live, you may need to report an "unattended death" to the authorities if hospice is not involved. Someone with the authority to do so much fill out the particulars for the death certificate.
I think after that, next of kin and the funeral home. I would try very hard NOT to be alone at the time of death.
I would also put this question to your elderly parent's doctor. Before my mom went on hospice, I specifically asked her cardiologist if he would sign off on mom's death certificate should she die at home. I had her DNR on hand, in case there were paramedics on the scene. In NY, if there is a doctor who is willing to sign off on the death certificate, you can call the funeral home directly. If there is no doctor to sign, then the body has to be removed to the county morgue until such a time that a doctor can be found who is willing to sign. In some cases, the county ME will conduct an autopsy to determine cause of death.
Since mom was on hospice when she passed, the hospice nurse verified the time of death and called the funeral home.
If your parent isn't in hospice, this is really something you should discuss with your parent's primary doctor. They should be able to guide you.
I wish you well.
If the deceased was on Hospice, call the Hospice contact number..
Here in the UK, I called my mother's GP and she arrived at our home within an hour to certify the death. The next call was to the undertakers (funeral directors), and I was told they would come first thing next day. So mother got to lie in peace in her own bed overnight, which was oddly comforting. The coroner's office rang me a few days later to run a few checks - we have a system set up after Harold Shipman so that even patients on their doctors' "don't be surprised if they die" list get the courtesy of an enquiry without the ordeal of a full inquest.
Related story:
My grandmother had a week of not feeling well no fever, no infection symptoms, but kind of tired and dragged out. So, my mom made an appointment for Gram to see her primary care doctor.
While sitting in the passenger seat in next to my mom, Mom noticed that Gram wasn't breathing - her dentures were kind of at half mast in her mouth. Mom tired to take the dentures out and Gram didn't flinch. Mom speed-dialed my sister (an RN who lived closer to Mom than I ever do) who said she would meet Mom at the doctor's office.
My sister called Gram's doctor and also notified the staff when she and Mom's vehicles arrived.
The doctor said Gram was indeed dead, but that he did not have the paperwork for a death certificate.
Mom had to then drive Gram to the ER so that the people there could write a death certificate. They also allowed Gram to be put into their morgue until the funeral staff would come to collect her.
In hindsight, EMS could have come to the house and written a death certificate. Then, the funeral staff could have come to the house to collect Gram. It would have been faster and less expensive.
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