What to do when someone dies at home
Immediate actions
If someone dies at home and you are with them:
Take your time. There is no need to rush. Note the time of death, and allow yourself a moment to process what has happened.
Contact a GP or out-of-hours doctor to verify the death and provide the medical certificate. This does not need to happen immediately, especially overnight.
While you wait for the doctor
You can:
Leave the body as it is.
Leave medical devices in place.
Cool the room by:
Turning off heating.
Closing curtains to block sunlight.
Opening a window (cover the opening to reduce draughts).
Replace heavy bedding with a light sheet.
To help preserve the body:
Use air conditioning or place freezer packs around the body (avoid direct contact with skin).
Elevate the head slightly if desired.
Gently close the mouth using a pillow or rolled towel under the chin.
Gently close the eyes (use damp tissues if needed to keep eyelids shut).
Place an incontinence pad or towel under the pelvis, if not already in place.
Understanding rigor mortis
Rigor mortis, the natural stiffening of muscles, usually begins around 3 hours after death, but this can vary. It:
Develops gradually, not suddenly.
Typically wears off after 24 hours.
May be accompanied by:
Changes in skin tone.
Discolouration of fingernails and toenails.
Gradual cooling of the body over a few hours.
If you plan to keep the body at home for a few days, it’s important to begin cooling within the first couple of hours.
Washing and dressing the body
You may choose to wash and dress the body yourself (also called ‘laying out’), or ask for assistance. Options include:
Doing it yourself with help from another person.
Requesting support from a community nurse.
Asking a funeral director to do it later.
Important things to know:
You cannot hurt the person – they no longer feel pain.
Movement of the body may cause:
Air to be released (resulting in sounds).
Fluids to exit the mouth or nose – use a towel to absorb this.
Leaks of urine or faeces – place a towel or pad underneath.
For step-by-step guidance on washing and dressing a body, visit Good Funeral Guide – Caring for the body.
When visitors want to say goodbye
Allow time for family and friends to spend time with the person while they are at home, if they wish to do so. This can be an important part of the grieving process.
Arranging for the body to be moved
When you are ready:
Contact your chosen funeral director (if using one).
Confirm when they will arrive and whether there are any out-of-hours charges (overnight removals may cost extra).
If you are arranging transport yourself, plan ahead:
Make sure you have people available to lift the coffin.
Ensure the route out of the home is clear and manageable.
Understand how to place the body safely in the coffin.
Ask your funeral director in advance what they charge for body collection, even if you're not using them for anything else.
If the death occurs in a hospital, hospice or care home hospital
Hospital
You will usually be offered some time alone with the person.
Hospital staff will then move the body to the hospital mortuary.
The next of kin will be:
Given the medical certificate of death.
Informed about collecting belongings.
Advised to contact a funeral director.
Hospice
Some hospices have cooling rooms which allow more time for you to be with your loved one after death.
Eventually, the body will be moved to the funeral director’s premises.
Care home
Most care homes do not have mortuary or cooling facilities.
The body is typically collected by a funeral director shortly after death.
At your request, the person can be brought home, or taken directly to a funeral home.
Legal requirements
When someone dies, the following legal steps must be taken:
Register the death within the legal time frame:
Within 5 days in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Within 8 days in Scotland.
Registration must take place before burial or cremation can occur.
You will need a medical certificate of cause of death, issued by a doctor.
Usually, the executor of the estate or a close family member completes the registration.
Other key points:
There is no legal time limit by which burial or cremation must take place.
No one owns the body of a deceased person. However, the executor of the Will is legally responsible for ensuring the deceased's wishes are carried out.
A body can be kept at home for a period after death.
You may transport the body in any suitable vehicle, as long as it is covered.