Even when death is expected, it’s common to feel upset, sad or shocked. An expected death is not an emergency and what you need to do next depends on the circumstances.
Learn more about:
- What to do after the death
- Funeral and religious services
- Wills and probate
- Financial matters
- Ways to remember
- Grief
What to do after death
If the person was being cared for at home and was expected to die at home, there is no need to call an ambulance or the police. You can take some time to sit with the person.
You may want to call close family or friends who may have wanted to see the person or say goodbye. If you would prefer not to be alone, call a friend or family member.
If the person dies during the night, you may choose to wait until the morning to take further action. There is no hurry or need to call or let someone know right away.
When you feel ready, call the person’s GP or community nurse and a funeral home. The GP or nurse will examine the person to verify death and complete a medical certificate confirming the death. In some cases, the GP will also need to complete another form if the person is being cremated. This is needed to make funeral arrangements. Sometimes the person’s GP may not be available at the time of death, so prepare for this possibility by discussing what to do in advance.
The funeral director can register the death with the registry of births, deaths and marriages in your state or territory; the registry will then organise a death certificate.
If the death occurs in a palliative care unit, hospital or residential aged care home, there’s usually no need to rush. You can have time alone with the person before the nurses explain what needs to be done. Some people want to wait until other family members or friends have had the opportunity to say goodbye.
Several organisations will need to be told of the death. Services Australia has a useful checklist of who may need to be notified.
I had promised Mum that after she died, I would make sure she had her favourite lippy on. I did this at the funeral parlour before the final viewing of her body. She was wearing the dress we had chosen together.
Judith
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Fiona Wiseman, Senior Social Worker, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Grace Berwald, Consumer; Peta Brydon, Metastatic McGrath Breast Care Clinical Nurse Consultant, The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, NSW; Kate Bunyan, Social Worker, Psychosocial Lead, Cancer and Palliative Supportive Care, Canberra Region Cancer Centre, ACT; Hayden Christie, Medical Oncologist and Clinical Director Cancer Care Service and Clinical Lead of the VAD Service for Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service, QLD; John Clements, Consumer; Claire Davies, Spiritual Care Practitioner, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Joanne Dean, Nurse Practitioner, PEACE Team, Clare Holland House, ACT; A/Prof Michael Franco, Medical Oncologist and Palliative Medicine Physician, Deputy Head – Monash Medical School, Monash University, VIC; Dr Sally Greenaway, WSLHD Director of Supportive and Palliative Care, Senior Staff Specialist Clinical Haematology and Clinical Ethics Service, NSW; Maree Grier, Clinical Psychologist, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, QLD; Dr Catherine Joyce, National Manager, Advance Care Planning Australia; Mattesse Kitchin, Consumer; Penny Neller, Project Manager, End of Life Law for Clinicians, Australian Centre for Health Law Research, Queensland University of Technology, QLD; Caitriona Nienaber 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Palliative Care Australia; A/Prof Joel Rhee, Head of Discipline of General Practice, School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, NSW.
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