At Death

When Someone Dies at Home Unexpectedly 

Call Triple Zero (000), and ask for an Ambulance.  The Paramedic will contact the doctor who will write the Death Certificate. The Police will need to be called if the doctor cannot establish the cause of death. If the cause of death is not natural and is unexpected, the Police will report the death to the Coroner.

When Someone Dies at Home Expectedly

If your loved one has been under the care of a doctor for the last few months or longer, you should contact that doctor as soon as possible. The doctor will advise you what to do and will register the death and issue a Death Certificate confirming the cause (get several copies of the Death Certificate).

 

At this time you should also pause and and reflect with your loved one before calling the appropriate people.  You could also use this special time to take care of the body by your family as a personal and intimate way to say goodbye. Laying out (before rigor mortis* sets in) by closing the eyelids and mouth, washing, dressing, keeping vigil and in other ways preparing for this final farewell, can become part of the process of grieving.  

The Home Funeral Alliance has resources for families regarding home death care.  When death is immanent choices can be made to return home from hospital with aid of palliative care 

You can also plan with the facility/Funeral Director to have the body returned home for a short period if death occurs in a place that is not home. Depending upon the climate and season, this may extend to as long as 2-3 days.

 

*rigor mortis is a postmortem change resulting in the stiffening of the body muscles due to chemical changes in their myofibrils.  This changes usually begins within 2 hours. 

Extending The Time At Home

To ensure Home Death Care is a safe and sound practice, End-of-Life Doulas and Death Care community organisations use and offer cooling plates and cots so that your loved one can be kept at home (to Australian mortuary standards) for up to 3 days or more.  In Queensland you may put the body in a small room and leave a powerful air conditioner on at its coldest level nearest the person’s head. This should not be done in very hot weather.      

 

Body Cooling Plate

A Cooling Plate or Cooling Blanket, is a compact refrigeration unit which pumps coolant into a metal plate or blanket on which the deceased is laid out. A Cooling Plate is a non-invasive and easier to use option for people to use.   Doulas can educate & empower (teach, demonstrate, advise, guide & support) families who wish to care for their own person using a hired Cooling Plate.  Refer to our Service Directory for Cooling Plate services. 

 

Cuddle Cot 

Cuddle Cot for babies is a specially designed a bassinet/cot with a built in cooling system, allowing the parents to spend time with their baby before they say their final goodbyes.  Bereavement Counsellors encourage the use of the Cuddle Cots as it extends the time for families to be together a little longer with the option of taking the baby home.  Cuddle Cots are often supplied by the hospital or through Bears of Hope.

 

Capture The Memories

Even in times of sorrow photographs can become a cherished memory.  Heartfelt is a volunteer organisation of professional photographers all over Australia and New Zealand who provide the gift of memories to families who have experienced stillbirth or have children with serious or life threating illness. It is dedicated to providing this gift in a caring and compassionate manner, with all services free of charge.