What to Do When Someone Dies at Home (Expected Death)

An expected death at home — most often under hospice care — unfolds differently than an emergency, and it’s okay to move slowly.

Is there a time limit before I need to call someone?

No. If your loved one was on hospice, or their doctor knew death was near, nothing about the next hour needs to happen quickly. Many families sit with their loved one, call other family members to come say goodbye, or simply take a quiet moment before making any calls. Take the time you need.

Do I need to call 911 if death was expected?

Generally no. Call the hospice team or the person’s doctor - not 911. If your loved one was under hospice care, call the hospice team first - they’re prepared for this and can pronounce the death without involving emergency services. Calling 911 for an expected hospice death can sometimes trigger an unnecessary emergency response.

Hospice nurses are on call 24/7 specifically for this. They will:

• Come to pronounce the death
• Help you understand next steps
• Contact the funeral home you’ve chosen, or help you choose one
• Arrange for hospice equipment and medications to be collected

If there’s no hospice involved but the death was still expected (for example, a terminal illness managed by a home health nurse or family doctor), call that physician’s office directly.

Who actually pronounces the death?

A hospice nurse, home health nurse, or the person’s physician can typically pronounce death. They’ll also help you contact a funeral home when you’re ready.

What happens next?

Once the death is pronounced, the hospice or medical team typically helps coordinate the transfer of your loved one to the funeral home you select. If you haven’t chosen one yet, hospice staff can usually offer recommendations or a list of local options.

What happens to hospice equipment and medications?

The hospice team will typically arrange to collect medical equipment, and will guide you on properly disposing of medications - don’t do this yourself without their guidance.

What if I haven’t planned anything yet?

It’s completely normal not to have a funeral home picked out in advance. See our guide on choosing a funeral home right after a death for how to move forward from here.

For what the moment may look like beforehand, see being with someone at the moment of death.

This article covers a home death where the death itself was expected. If the death was sudden or unexpected, see our separate guide for that situation instead.