Who Do I Call First When Someone Dies at Home on Hospice?

Call your hospice agency's 24-hour number first. Not 911, and not the funeral home. A hospice nurse will come to your home, confirm the death and help you with every step after that. You do not need to rush.

If you are reading this right now because it just happened, take a breath. There is no emergency to solve. The steps below are in order, and you can go through them one at a time.

Step 1: Call the hospice, not 911

When someone is on hospice care, their death is expected, and the hospice team has a plan for this moment. Look for the hospice's phone number on the folder they left, on the refrigerator, or on the medicine sheet. Someone answers that line day and night.

Tell them who you are, the patient's name, and that you think they have died. They will send a nurse to your home.

Why not 911? Emergency crews are trained to try to bring people back. If they arrive, they may start CPR or take your loved one to the hospital unless they see a valid do-not-resuscitate order. That is often the opposite of what your loved one wanted, and it can be very hard on the family. If you have already called 911, that is okay. Tell them the person is on hospice and show them the do-not-resuscitate paperwork if you have it.

Step 2: While you wait for the nurse

• You don't have to do anything. There is no need to move your loved one right away.
• If you can, gently lay them flat with a pillow under the head, close the eyes and mouth, and straighten the arms and legs. Within the first few hours the body begins to stiffen, so doing this early is easier.
• Take the time you need. Many families sit with their loved one, say goodbye, pray, or call close family to come over before the funeral home arrives. This time is yours.
• Turn off oxygen and pumps if you feel comfortable doing so. If not, the nurse will do it.

Step 3: What the hospice nurse does

When the nurse arrives, they will:

• Confirm the death and record the time. Someone in authority, such as a doctor or hospice nurse, has to officially pronounce the death, and that person starts the paperwork used for the death certificate. Who is allowed to pronounce varies by state, and the hospice knows the rules where you live.
• Let the doctor know so the medical part of the death certificate can be completed.
• Help with leftover medicines, following the hospice's policy for safe disposal.
• Remove tubes or lines if your loved one had any.
• Call the funeral home for you, if you want them to, or help you make that call.

Step 4: Call the funeral home

If your loved one already chose a funeral home, the nurse or a family member calls them. If no one did, you can pick one now. You can call more than one and ask for prices over the phone. Funeral homes must give you price information by phone if you ask, under the FTC's Funeral Rule.

The funeral home sends staff to bring your loved one into their care. You can ask them to wait until family has arrived. In most cases there is no reason they must come within the hour.

Step 5: Who else to call that first day

Only a few calls truly need to happen today:

• Close family and friends. You can ask one person to tell the rest, so you don't have to repeat it again and again.
• Their employer, if they were still working.
• Someone to care for pets or dependents who lived with them.

Almost everything else, including Social Security, banks, insurance and accounts, can wait a few days. The funeral home usually reports the death to Social Security for you.

What happens in the next few days

• Medical equipment: the hospice or the equipment company will call to arrange pickup of the hospital bed, oxygen and other supplies. You don't have to arrange this yourself.
• Death certificates: the funeral home usually orders these for you. Ask for several certified copies. Our guide on how many death certificates you need explains how to count.
• Grief support: hospices offer bereavement support to families after a death. Someone from the hospice will likely reach out, and you can call them any time.

A quick checklist for the first hours

1. Call the hospice's 24-hour line.
2. Sit with your loved one while you wait. Lay them flat if you can.
3. Let the nurse confirm the death and handle medicines and equipment.
4. Call the funeral home, or let the nurse call.
5. Tell close family, and ask one person to spread the word.
6. Rest. Everything else can wait.

Frequently asked questions

What if it happens in the middle of the night?

Call the hospice anyway. Their line is answered around the clock, and a nurse will come at night too.

Do I have to call the police or the medical examiner?

Usually not when the person was on hospice and the death was expected. The hospice handles the official steps. Rules vary by state, so the hospice will tell you if anything else is needed.

Can we keep our loved one at home for a while?

Yes. Many families keep their loved one at home for a few hours, and some longer. See our guide on how long a body can stay at home after someone dies.

If grief feels like too much, you can call or text 988 any time to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

This article is general information, not medical or legal advice. Rules vary by state. Last checked October 28, 2026.

Sources: National Institute on Aging: What To Do After Someone Dies; FTC: The Funeral Rule.