Page 5 - 2024-04 WMVFH Resource Guide

When Death Occurs

When Somebody You Love Becomes A Memory, That Memory Becomes A Treasure.

DEATH IN A HEALTH CARE FACILITY UNEXPECTED DEATH AT HOME
When death occurs at a hospital or nursing home, the In these situations, immediately call 911. The police and
medical staff should take care of all necessary legal steps. emergency personnel will then respond and determine
Inform the medical staff of your decision to have our fu- the appropriate steps to be taken. Emergency person-
neral home care for final arrangements. They will prepare nel will notify the physician or county coroner to secure
any necessary release documents for your authorization the release of the individual to the funeral home. Inform
as next of kin. The medical staff will typically offer to notify emergency personnel of your decision to have us care for
our funeral home on your behalf. We respond to the hos- arrangements and they will notify the funeral home to re-
pital or nursing home upon receiving notification of death. spond at the proper time.

ANTICIPATED DEATH AT HOME DEATH AWAY FROM HOME
Today more people with terminal illnesses are electing to If death occurs outside of our local area, you should first
spend their final days at home under the care of hospice. call us. We will coordinate with a local funeral director at
Notify the hospice staff of your decision to have our fu- the place of death. As a member of the largest nation-
neral home care for arrangements. When death occurs, al association for funeral directors, we can typically save
the hospice nurse on duty should be notified first of the families time and resources by having our firm make the
death. They will direct the funeral home to the residence transportation arrangements.
at the appropriate time.

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