Natural Death at Home: Immediate Steps & Who to Call

Immediate Actions

1. Call 911 (or local emergency number). Dispatcher will guide; EMS dispatched.
2. Do not move the body or disturb surroundings.
3. Do not begin CPR if obvious signs of death (rigor, lividity, no pulse/apnea for >10 min) and DNR/POLST in place. If uncertain, start CPR per dispatcher.

EMS / Police Role

• Confirm death (asystole on monitor, physical exam).
• Notify Medical Examiner/Coroner (ME/C) — required for unattended, unexpected, or non-hospice deaths.
• Police investigate to rule out foul play (routine).
• ME/C decides: release to funeral home, autopsy, or scene investigation.

If Hospice / Expected Death

• Call hospice nurse first (24/7 line). They pronounce, coordinate ME/C notification (often phone), and funeral home.
• No 911 needed unless family prefers or no hospice.

Next Steps

1. Contact funeral home (they transport, file death certificate).
2. Primary care physician signs death certificate (cause/manner) if known natural cause.
3. Obtain certified death certificates (funeral home helps; need for banks, insurance, probate).
4. Notify Social Security, banks, insurers, veterans affairs.

Advance directives (DNR, POLST, hospice enrollment) dramatically simplify the process.