What to do when someone dies at home at night
Losing someone you love is one of the hardest moments you’ll have to deal with in life. This can be more challenging when they die at home during the night, even if the death is expected. While the rest of the world sleeps, you’re having to deal with an emotional and surreal time in your life.
It’s completely understandable that you may feel confused about what to do, and that’s totally normal. The most important thing to remember is that there’s no need to rush; you can take things slowly and focus on one thing at a time. In this article, we take a look at the steps to take when a loved one dies at home during the night.
Take time to say goodbye
If their death was expected, such as after a long illness, it’s okay to just sit with them for a while. Losing a loved one in this way can feel surreal, but take your time to be with them. There is no set time to make any calls, spend time talking with them, light a candle or listen to their favourite music.
If the death was unexpected, remember, try not to panic. Help is available even in the middle of the night. You may want to call a family member, a neighbour or a friend to come and be with you.
What to do if the death is expected
If your loved one was receiving end-of-life care at home, then there may have been a plan in place for when this time came. You’ll need to call your GP surgery to certify the death – if out of hours, the call will be forwarded to an on-call doctor. They’ll issue the medical certificate you’ll need to register the death.
Your next step is to call the funeral directors to collect the body. There is no rush to do this, and feel free to spend some extra time with them before contacting them.
What to do if the death is unexpected
If your loved one wasn’t ill and has passed away suddenly, call 999 straightaway. Paramedics will come to your home to try and do everything they can to help. If they are unable to resuscitate your loved one, they’ll confirm the death and guide you on what happens next.
In some cases, the police may also visit to ensure everything is handled properly and with care. This is routine when a death is unexpected.
Call a funeral director
In either scenario, once the death has been confirmed by a medical professional, you can contact your chosen funeral director to arrange the collection of the deceased. Your loved one will then remain at the funeral director’s until their funeral. You can request a visit if you wish.
Register the death
Within five days of the medical certificate being issued, you’ll need to register the death at your local register office. Your funeral director will be happy to guide you through this process and answer any questions.
Planning a funeral
If you’re planning a funeral for a loved one, Fiesta Farewell is here to help. Search our guides to help you navigate what can be an emotional and stressful time, or browse our directory to find local funeral services suppliers.