Preparing for a death at home - what to do when someone dies at home | healthdirect
Preparing for a death at home - what to do when someone dies at home | healthdirect
Preparing for a death at home
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If a person's death is unexpected and they did not have a terminal illness, call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.
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Many people prefer to die at home in familiar surroundings. For those in end-of-life care, their home can provide a sense of freedom, peace, and privacy.
You may be caring for someone at home who has a terminal condition and is dying. This article gives you advice on how to prepare for a death at home.
How do I prepare for a coming death at home?
If the person you care for knows they are dying, they should talk to their doctor or palliative care team about:how that might happen
what they want
Their doctor or palliative care team may ask them:Do they want to die at home?
Do they want to be resuscitated, if possible?
They should either involve you in the discussion or tell you afterwards, so you know what to expect.
Try to make the person you’re caring for comfortable:treat them with dignity and compassion
try to keep them as free of pain as possible
If they know they are dying, they might want to talk about their life. They might want to be left in silence. Let them lead the way.
The person you are caring for may have medical problems. If they have severe pain or other distressing symptoms, call the doctor or palliative care team for advice.
Arrange for someone to come to your home to support you during your loved one’s final days or hours. This person may be a:close relative
friend
nurse
Find out more here about:palliative care
planning for the end of life
the physical process of dying
Video provided by CarerHelp — Regina Kendall: Practical tips for home care at end of life.
What legal documents do I need to prepare for a death at home?
Ideally, the person you care for will already have legal documents in place, such as those described below.
Death at home documents
Your doctor can help by providing you with ‘death at home’ documents, such as a letter telling the ambulance service the person is dying an expected death and should not be resuscitated.
A will
A will states how you want your belongings distributed after your death. Follow the link to find out more about wills and powers of attorney.
Enduring power of attorney
An enduring power of attorney states who can make legal and financial decisions for you if you can’t do it yourself.
Appointing an enduring guardian
An enduring guardian is someone who can make decisions about your medical care and lifestyle if you can’t do it yourself. An enduring guardian should be someone who you trust and know well. This person should be named in your enduring guardianship documents.
Advance care planning
Advance care planning is the process of planning for your current and future health care.
Advance care plans are not legally binding. Your doctor can discuss advance care planning with you and your family.
Advance care directive
To formalise your advance care plan you should write an advance care directive. This is also known as an advance health directive, or a living will.
The forms for writing advance care directives vary between states and territories. Follow the link to find out more about advance care planning in your state or territory (or call 1300 208 582 for advice).
What if these documents are not available?
If these arrangements are not in place, you can see if there is time to arrange them now. It is especially important to organise a will. Dying without a will can create significant problems and upset for family members.
What should I do after a death at home?
The death of a person you have been caring for can be difficult to deal with. It is natural to feel grief and a mix of emotions. Try to stay calm.
First, call the person’s doctor or palliative care team. You can ask them to arrange for a doctor to:visit to confirm the person’s death
issue a medical certificate of cause of death
If the person’s death is expected and natural, you don’t have to call a doctor right away. If they die during the night you can wait until the morning before calling a doctor.
If there is no doctor available, call the police.
Video provided by CarerHelp — Regina Kendall: What to do when someone dies.
When is a death referred to a coroner?
If the doctor cannot confirm the cause of death, they will have to call the police. The police refer ‘reportable deaths’ to the coroner. These include when the person has died:violently or unnaturally
unusually or in suspicious circumstances
unexpectedly
after an accident, injury or surgery
The coroner can ask for a post-mortem or autopsy to decide the cause of death.
What should I do in the days and weeks after a death at home?
First, be kind to yourself. You will probably be feeling a whole range of emotions and will find it hard to concentrate. Grieving can take a long time, and each person’s experience is unique. It is important to look after your own physical and mental health.
Get support from family and friends. If you feel comfortable, allow people to help if they offer.
Services Australia have payments and services that may help you after someone has died.
For information about counselling services, call the Commonwealth Carer Resource Centre on 1800 242 636. You can also call Griefline on 1300 845 745.
Other helpful organisations include:Lifeline — loss and grief
Beyond Blue — grief and loss
The Compassionate Friends Australia — support after the death of a child
Cancer Council — after the death
Dementia Australia — coping after the death of someone with dementia
How do I arrange a funeral?
Call a funeral director to:collect the person’s body
arrange the funeral
They will pass on the doctor’s certificate, noting the cause of death, to the state or territory Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. The registry then issues a death certificate.
The funeral director will follow the wishes of the deceased person and their family. This includes whether they want to have a cremation or burial. Click here for a practical guide to the funeral process.
You may not want to use a funeral director. In this case, the person taking charge of the funeral must register the death. Click here to access the births, deaths and marriages register in your state or territory.
When should I notify banks and other organisations after a death?
After someone dies, you will need to notify many people and organisations, including the person’s:bank
superannuation fund
the Australian Taxation Office
See the Services Australia page on what to do following a death for details of social and financial support.
Resources and support
For more support:You can visit Palliative Care Australia.
Griefline provides telephone support — call 1300 845 745, Mon to Fri, 8am to 8pm (AEST).
CarerHelp provides resources created to support carers.
If you need help finding the right services, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria).
Other languages
Visit the CareSearch website for links to palliative care and end-of-life information in different community languages.
FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.
Sources:Money Smart (Wills and powers of attorney), Advance Care Planning Australia (Advance care planning explained), Australian Funeral Directors Association (What do I do when someone dies?), LawAccess NSW (After someone dies), Services Australia (What to do when a loved one dies), Judicial Commission of NSW (Coronial matters), RACGP (Home based palliative care), Queensland Health (End-of-life care: Guidelines for decision-making about withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining measures from adult patients), Palliative Care Australia (I am a carer), Cancer Council (After the death)
Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.
Last reviewed: September 2022
Back To Top
Need more information?
These trusted information partners have more on this topic.
General search results
Results for medical professionals
Top results
Manage Dying - Home Care
This section reviews resources to assist you in recognising that someone is imminently dying and to provide support for dying clients and their families.
Read more on End of Life Directions for Aged Care ELDAC website
Death & Dying - Carer Topics
Find information and resources to help you care for a person with terminal illness at home and prepare for their end of life.
Read more on CarerHelp website
Respond to Deterioration - Home Care
Clients will experience different illness trajectories depending on the primary diagnosis and presence of other diseases (comorbidities). Across all these illness trajectories, it is important to identify and respond appropriately to deterioration of the client caused by their primary diagnosis or as a result of other disease or events.
Read more on End of Life Directions for Aged Care ELDAC website
At the end – dying explained - Better Health Channel
Some people prefer having palliative care at home because of the familiar environment, feeling of independence and close access to family, friends and the local community.
Read more on Better Health Channel website
Recognising Dying - CarerHelp Knowledge
When you are ready, call the doctor or health care team to verify the death. If you are in the hospital or aged care facility contact one of the staff members.
Read more on CarerHelp website
Caring for the dying person
When the person is dying, you will be seeking to provide comfort and continue care. There will be practical things to do but taking the time to just be with the person can also be important.
Read more on CarerHelp website
Caring for the dying person - CarerHelp Knowledge
When the person is dying, you will be seeking to provide comfort and continue care. There will be practical things to do but taking the time to just be with the person can also be important.
Read more on CarerHelp website
End of Life Law - Voluntary Assisted Dying - Overview
Voluntary assisted dying (VAD) is the assistance provided by a health practitioner to a person with a terminal disease, illness or medical condition to end their life.
Read more on End of Life Directions for Aged Care ELDAC website
Caring for someone nearing the end of life - Cancer Council Victoria
Information and support for carers of people dying with cancer.
Read more on Cancer Council Victoria website
How should care be delivered at the end of life? Information for patients and their families and carers | Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
The way that we look after people who are dying is important. Good care at the end of life can help to reduce distress and grief for the person who is dying and for their family, friends and carers.
Read more on Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care website
Talking With Children - Why is Communication Important? - Living with Illness - Patients and Carers - Community
Simple and honest discussions about death and dying help. Talking to children about dying and death is not easy. It doesn’t matter whether you are a parent, other family member or friend.
Read more on CareSearch website
Talking With Children
Simple and honest discussions about death and dying help. Talking to children about dying and death is not easy. It doesn’t matter whether you are a parent, other family member or friend.
Read more on palliAGED website
Older People - Diverse Populations - Diversity - Community
Dying with serious illness and frailty. Even as we enjoy a longer lifespan, dying remains a natural part of the ageing process. The Australian population is getting older and with this the risk of life-limiting illness and frailty is increasing. People who are older are more likely to have multiple chronic conditions, making their care needs more complex.
Read more on CareSearch website
Changes at the Time of Death
Many people have little or no prior experience of dying and death. As a person approaches death, they will be likely to experience a variety of changes, such as decreasing energy and being easily tired.
Read more on palliAGED website
Dealing with Emotions and Grief
When someone is receiving palliative care it can be an emotional time. This is true for them and their families. No one can say how you should feel, or what emotions you will experience when someone is dying.
Read more on palliAGED website
Palliative Care in RAC
Residents often indicate that the aged care home is the place where they wish to die when their time comes. In most cases, you will be able to stay in your aged care home.
Read more on palliAGED website
Ways to be there in the last few days - CarerHelp Knowledge
Whether the person you are caring for is at home, in an aged care facility, or in a hospital or palliative care unit (hospice), there are many ways you can be there for them during the last few days.
Read more on CarerHelp website
Australians at risk due to poor bowel cancer knowledge | Know Pathology Know Healthcare
The latest research on bowel cancer awareness shows Australians are largely unaware of bowel cancer risks
Read more on Know Pathology Know Healthcare website
Carer check - When Someone Needs Care - CarerHelp
Know what you need to prepare for in caring for your partner, parent, child, relative or friend with terminal illness by completing this questionnaire.
Read more on CarerHelp website
Carer Voice - Resources
Watch videos of carers sharing their experience and practical tips on caring for a terminally ill parent, spouse or partner.
Read more on CarerHelp website
Preparing for a death at home
9-minute read
Share Save
Listen
If a person's death is unexpected and they did not have a terminal illness, call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.
On this page
- How do I prepare for a coming death at home?
- What legal documents do I need to prepare for a death at home?
- What should I do after a death at home?
- When is a death referred to a coroner?
- What should I do in the days and weeks after a death at home?
- How do I arrange a funeral?
- When should I notify banks and other organisations after a death?
- Resources and support
- Related information on Australian websites
Many people prefer to die at home in familiar surroundings. For those in end-of-life care, their home can provide a sense of freedom, peace, and privacy.
You may be caring for someone at home who has a terminal condition and is dying. This article gives you advice on how to prepare for a death at home.
How do I prepare for a coming death at home?
If the person you care for knows they are dying, they should talk to their doctor or palliative care team about:how that might happen
what they want
Their doctor or palliative care team may ask them:Do they want to die at home?
Do they want to be resuscitated, if possible?
They should either involve you in the discussion or tell you afterwards, so you know what to expect.
Try to make the person you’re caring for comfortable:treat them with dignity and compassion
try to keep them as free of pain as possible
If they know they are dying, they might want to talk about their life. They might want to be left in silence. Let them lead the way.
The person you are caring for may have medical problems. If they have severe pain or other distressing symptoms, call the doctor or palliative care team for advice.
Arrange for someone to come to your home to support you during your loved one’s final days or hours. This person may be a:close relative
friend
nurse
Find out more here about:palliative care
planning for the end of life
the physical process of dying
Video provided by CarerHelp — Regina Kendall: Practical tips for home care at end of life.
What legal documents do I need to prepare for a death at home?
Ideally, the person you care for will already have legal documents in place, such as those described below.
Death at home documents
Your doctor can help by providing you with ‘death at home’ documents, such as a letter telling the ambulance service the person is dying an expected death and should not be resuscitated.
A will
A will states how you want your belongings distributed after your death. Follow the link to find out more about wills and powers of attorney.
Enduring power of attorney
An enduring power of attorney states who can make legal and financial decisions for you if you can’t do it yourself.
Appointing an enduring guardian
An enduring guardian is someone who can make decisions about your medical care and lifestyle if you can’t do it yourself. An enduring guardian should be someone who you trust and know well. This person should be named in your enduring guardianship documents.
Advance care planning
Advance care planning is the process of planning for your current and future health care.
Advance care plans are not legally binding. Your doctor can discuss advance care planning with you and your family.
Advance care directive
To formalise your advance care plan you should write an advance care directive. This is also known as an advance health directive, or a living will.
The forms for writing advance care directives vary between states and territories. Follow the link to find out more about advance care planning in your state or territory (or call 1300 208 582 for advice).
What if these documents are not available?
If these arrangements are not in place, you can see if there is time to arrange them now. It is especially important to organise a will. Dying without a will can create significant problems and upset for family members.
What should I do after a death at home?
The death of a person you have been caring for can be difficult to deal with. It is natural to feel grief and a mix of emotions. Try to stay calm.
First, call the person’s doctor or palliative care team. You can ask them to arrange for a doctor to:visit to confirm the person’s death
issue a medical certificate of cause of death
If the person’s death is expected and natural, you don’t have to call a doctor right away. If they die during the night you can wait until the morning before calling a doctor.
If there is no doctor available, call the police.
Video provided by CarerHelp — Regina Kendall: What to do when someone dies.
When is a death referred to a coroner?
If the doctor cannot confirm the cause of death, they will have to call the police. The police refer ‘reportable deaths’ to the coroner. These include when the person has died:violently or unnaturally
unusually or in suspicious circumstances
unexpectedly
after an accident, injury or surgery
The coroner can ask for a post-mortem or autopsy to decide the cause of death.
What should I do in the days and weeks after a death at home?
First, be kind to yourself. You will probably be feeling a whole range of emotions and will find it hard to concentrate. Grieving can take a long time, and each person’s experience is unique. It is important to look after your own physical and mental health.
Get support from family and friends. If you feel comfortable, allow people to help if they offer.
Services Australia have payments and services that may help you after someone has died.
For information about counselling services, call the Commonwealth Carer Resource Centre on 1800 242 636. You can also call Griefline on 1300 845 745.
Other helpful organisations include:Lifeline — loss and grief
Beyond Blue — grief and loss
The Compassionate Friends Australia — support after the death of a child
Cancer Council — after the death
Dementia Australia — coping after the death of someone with dementia
How do I arrange a funeral?
Call a funeral director to:collect the person’s body
arrange the funeral
They will pass on the doctor’s certificate, noting the cause of death, to the state or territory Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. The registry then issues a death certificate.
The funeral director will follow the wishes of the deceased person and their family. This includes whether they want to have a cremation or burial. Click here for a practical guide to the funeral process.
You may not want to use a funeral director. In this case, the person taking charge of the funeral must register the death. Click here to access the births, deaths and marriages register in your state or territory.
When should I notify banks and other organisations after a death?
After someone dies, you will need to notify many people and organisations, including the person’s:bank
superannuation fund
the Australian Taxation Office
See the Services Australia page on what to do following a death for details of social and financial support.
Resources and support
For more support:You can visit Palliative Care Australia.
Griefline provides telephone support — call 1300 845 745, Mon to Fri, 8am to 8pm (AEST).
CarerHelp provides resources created to support carers.
If you need help finding the right services, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria).
Other languages
Visit the CareSearch website for links to palliative care and end-of-life information in different community languages.
FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.
Sources:Money Smart (Wills and powers of attorney), Advance Care Planning Australia (Advance care planning explained), Australian Funeral Directors Association (What do I do when someone dies?), LawAccess NSW (After someone dies), Services Australia (What to do when a loved one dies), Judicial Commission of NSW (Coronial matters), RACGP (Home based palliative care), Queensland Health (End-of-life care: Guidelines for decision-making about withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining measures from adult patients), Palliative Care Australia (I am a carer), Cancer Council (After the death)
Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.
Last reviewed: September 2022
Back To Top
Need more information?
These trusted information partners have more on this topic.
General search results
Results for medical professionals
Top results
Manage Dying - Home Care
This section reviews resources to assist you in recognising that someone is imminently dying and to provide support for dying clients and their families.
Read more on End of Life Directions for Aged Care ELDAC website
Death & Dying - Carer Topics
Find information and resources to help you care for a person with terminal illness at home and prepare for their end of life.
Read more on CarerHelp website
Respond to Deterioration - Home Care
Clients will experience different illness trajectories depending on the primary diagnosis and presence of other diseases (comorbidities). Across all these illness trajectories, it is important to identify and respond appropriately to deterioration of the client caused by their primary diagnosis or as a result of other disease or events.
Read more on End of Life Directions for Aged Care ELDAC website
At the end – dying explained - Better Health Channel
Some people prefer having palliative care at home because of the familiar environment, feeling of independence and close access to family, friends and the local community.
Read more on Better Health Channel website
Recognising Dying - CarerHelp Knowledge
When you are ready, call the doctor or health care team to verify the death. If you are in the hospital or aged care facility contact one of the staff members.
Read more on CarerHelp website
Caring for the dying person
When the person is dying, you will be seeking to provide comfort and continue care. There will be practical things to do but taking the time to just be with the person can also be important.
Read more on CarerHelp website
Caring for the dying person - CarerHelp Knowledge
When the person is dying, you will be seeking to provide comfort and continue care. There will be practical things to do but taking the time to just be with the person can also be important.
Read more on CarerHelp website
End of Life Law - Voluntary Assisted Dying - Overview
Voluntary assisted dying (VAD) is the assistance provided by a health practitioner to a person with a terminal disease, illness or medical condition to end their life.
Read more on End of Life Directions for Aged Care ELDAC website
Caring for someone nearing the end of life - Cancer Council Victoria
Information and support for carers of people dying with cancer.
Read more on Cancer Council Victoria website
How should care be delivered at the end of life? Information for patients and their families and carers | Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
The way that we look after people who are dying is important. Good care at the end of life can help to reduce distress and grief for the person who is dying and for their family, friends and carers.
Read more on Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care website
Talking With Children - Why is Communication Important? - Living with Illness - Patients and Carers - Community
Simple and honest discussions about death and dying help. Talking to children about dying and death is not easy. It doesn’t matter whether you are a parent, other family member or friend.
Read more on CareSearch website
Talking With Children
Simple and honest discussions about death and dying help. Talking to children about dying and death is not easy. It doesn’t matter whether you are a parent, other family member or friend.
Read more on palliAGED website
Older People - Diverse Populations - Diversity - Community
Dying with serious illness and frailty. Even as we enjoy a longer lifespan, dying remains a natural part of the ageing process. The Australian population is getting older and with this the risk of life-limiting illness and frailty is increasing. People who are older are more likely to have multiple chronic conditions, making their care needs more complex.
Read more on CareSearch website
Changes at the Time of Death
Many people have little or no prior experience of dying and death. As a person approaches death, they will be likely to experience a variety of changes, such as decreasing energy and being easily tired.
Read more on palliAGED website
Dealing with Emotions and Grief
When someone is receiving palliative care it can be an emotional time. This is true for them and their families. No one can say how you should feel, or what emotions you will experience when someone is dying.
Read more on palliAGED website
Palliative Care in RAC
Residents often indicate that the aged care home is the place where they wish to die when their time comes. In most cases, you will be able to stay in your aged care home.
Read more on palliAGED website
Ways to be there in the last few days - CarerHelp Knowledge
Whether the person you are caring for is at home, in an aged care facility, or in a hospital or palliative care unit (hospice), there are many ways you can be there for them during the last few days.
Read more on CarerHelp website
Australians at risk due to poor bowel cancer knowledge | Know Pathology Know Healthcare
The latest research on bowel cancer awareness shows Australians are largely unaware of bowel cancer risks
Read more on Know Pathology Know Healthcare website
Carer check - When Someone Needs Care - CarerHelp
Know what you need to prepare for in caring for your partner, parent, child, relative or friend with terminal illness by completing this questionnaire.
Read more on CarerHelp website
Carer Voice - Resources
Watch videos of carers sharing their experience and practical tips on caring for a terminally ill parent, spouse or partner.
Read more on CarerHelp website
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