A gentle checklist
What to do when a death occurs.
Take it one step at a time. You can call us at any point, and we will help with every step.
Right away
The first hours.
Call the right person first
With hospice, call the hospice nurse. An unexpected death at home, call 911. In a hospital or nursing home, the staff will help.
Call us
A director answers any hour and arranges to bring your loved one into our care.
Let close family know
Ask one or two people to help you make the other calls.
The next few days
What to gather.
- Any pre-planning papers or written wishes
- Their Social Security number and birth date, for the death certificate
- Discharge papers (DD-214) for a veteran
- Clothing for them to wear, and a favorite photograph
- Cemetery deed or plot details, if there is one
- Life insurance policies
In the weeks after
What can wait.
- We usually report the death to Social Security for you. Ask us.
- Order enough certified death certificates for banks, insurance and property
- Contact banks, pension providers and insurers
- Cancel subscriptions, memberships and their driver's license
