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WHEN DEATH OCCURS
No matter if a death is sudden, or if When death occurs at a hospital/
it’s something that was a long time nursing home/hospice
coming, the loss of a loved one makes The staff of a care facility such as a
us feel emotional and overwhelmed. hospital or a nursing home will notify
No amount of preparation can fully you and the necessary authorities im-
prepare you for the loss of a loved mediately after a death has occurred.
one. When you are in a heightened If a funeral home has been provided
emotional state, even the most basic to the hospital or nursing home, they
decisions can seem staggering. The will be notified at the time of death. If
following is a rough guideline of what you are present at the hospital when
needs to be done within the first 24 the funeral director arrives, they will
hours after death. ask a few questions about the de-
ceased wishes and set up a time to
When death occurs at home or a come into the funeral home to make
place of business arrangements, however, if you are not
If the person was not under hospice present a funeral director will contact
care, the police will have to be noti- you by telephone to discuss these ar-
fied immediately. The police will be rangements.
dispatched to the home and place the
call to the coroner/medical examiner. Informing a Funeral Director
From there the coroner/medical ex- Once everything has been cleared
aminer will determine whether further with the proper authorities, the next
action is necessary. The coroner/med- call you place should be to a licensed
ical examiner must release the body funeral director. Funeral directors are
before a funeral home can do any- here to help transport the body, and in
thing. If the person was under hospice the event pre-planning was not done,
care, contact the hospice representa- select a casket/urn and arrange the
tive if they were not present and they funeral/memorial service. The funer-
will notify family members what the al director will also provide you with
proper procedures are to follow. Proofs of Death and help you noti-
fy government agencies for benefits
such as the Canada Pension Plan
Death Benefit and if applicable the
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