When Someone Dies at home
When Someone Dies at Home
A calm, step‑by‑step guide for the moment no one feels prepared for
When someone dies at home, the first few minutes can feel unreal.
Time gets strange.
Your brain goes quiet or loud or both.
You may feel frozen, or shaky, or oddly calm.
All of that is normal.
This chapter exists to walk you through exactly what happens next — simply, clearly, and without panic.
1. If the person was on hospice
This is the easiest and most straightforward situation.
Here’s what you do:
Call the hospice nurse.
That’s it.
They will:
• come to the home
• confirm the death
• handle the medical side
• contact us (if you tell them you’re using Covenant)
• guide you through the next steps
You don’t have to call 911.
You don’t have to call the police.
You don’t have to make any urgent decisions.
Hospice takes the lead, and we coordinate directly with them.
2. If the person was not on hospice
This part depends on the circumstances, but here’s the simple version:
Call 911.
Tell them:
“My loved one has died.”
They will send:
- EMS
• and often law enforcement (this is standard, not a sign of suspicion)
Their job is to:
• confirm the death
• document the situation
• determine whether a medical examiner needs to be involved
This is routine.
It can feel formal, but it’s just the system doing what it’s designed to do.
Once they clear the scene, you can call us.
3. You don’t have to rush
This is one of the most important things to know.
After the death is confirmed:
• you can sit with your loved one
• you can wait for family
• you can take your time
• you can breathe
There is no timer.
There is no “right” amount of time.
There is only what feels right for you.
We will not rush you.
Hospice will not rush you.
EMS will not rush you.
You get to set the pace.
4. When you’re ready, call us
Once the medical side is handled (by hospice or EMS), you can call Covenant Funeral & Crematory.
When you call, we’ll ask a few simple questions:
• your name
• your loved one’s name
• the address
• whether hospice or EMS has been there
• when you’d like us to come
We’ll walk you through everything calmly and clearly.
You don’t have to know what to say.
You don’t have to have anything prepared.
You don’t have to make decisions right away.
Just call, and we’ll guide you.
5. What happens when we arrive
When our team arrives, we move quietly and respectfully.
We will:
• introduce ourselves
• answer any questions
• give you space
• explain what happens next
• move at your pace
There is no rush.
There is no pressure.
There is no “we need to take them right now.”
You decide when you’re ready.
6. What you don’t need to do
You do not need to:
• clean the room
• change anything
• move the person
• find paperwork
• make decisions about cremation or services
• feel embarrassed about anything
We’ve seen every situation.
Nothing surprises us.
Nothing is “wrong.”
Nothing needs to be perfect.
Your only job is to breathe.
7. What happens after we leave
Once your loved one is in our care, we handle:
• transportation
• sheltering
• permits
• Social Security notification
• preparing the death certificate
• guiding you through decisions
• answering questions as they come up
You don’t have to figure out the next steps alone.
We’ll walk with you through each one.
If You Remember Nothing Else
Remember this:
You’re not expected to know what to do.
You’re not expected to be calm.
You’re not expected to have answers.
If the person was on hospice, call the hospice nurse.
If they weren’t, call 911.
When the medical side is handled, call us.
We’ll take it from there — gently, clearly, and at your pace.
