There are a lot of practical tasks that need to be handled properly after someone passes away. Family caregivers often find themselves dealing with all of these tasks at once, wondering when they’re going to finally get it all done. End of life care services can offer valuable support during this time, assisting family caregivers in tackling what feels like an impossible task.
Let Family Members and Friends Know What Happened
It’s never easy to share bad news with people, but if family members and friends aren’t able to be there at the end, they need to be notified. There are lots of different ways to do this, but it can be important to handle it in a way that is easy to manage. Asking for help with this can be a good idea, especially if family caregivers are overwhelmed with all of the other details.
Get a Copy of the Necessary Death Paperwork
Getting a death certificate takes a little bit of time, but there is other paperwork that family members need before that’s available. A legal pronouncement of death also called a death declaration, is something that family members can get from the hospital if that’s where the person died. If the person dies at home, end of life care providers can provide that for the family.
Organize Funeral Arrangements
If the person who passed away shared their preferences for funeral arrangements, most of the planning might have been handled already. But many families find themselves starting from scratch with figuring out what to do. Funeral homes can help families to put together a memorial service according to a variety of different variables. Things to consider include whether the person will be buried or cremated, who will write the obituary, and where the service will be held.
Pull Together Paperwork
A death certificate is necessary to resolve a person’s estate after they pass away. Many family caregivers are shocked that they need more than one copy of the death certificate, but photocopies are not accepted. That means that it’s a lot easier to request ten or more certified copies of the death certificate at the very outset to be as prepared as possible. More can be requested later, if necessary. If the person left a will, that needs to be filed with the appropriate authorities as well.
Alert Necessary Organizations and Businesses
Usually, the funeral home can help with notifying some organizations, like the Social Security Administration, when someone passes away. But there are lots of different businesses and organizations that need to be aware of what’s happened. Banks, insurance companies, the Department of Motor Vehicles, other medical providers, credit card companies, and more all need to be alerted that the person has passed away. That means they’ll need copies of the death certificate and possibly other information as well. It all takes time and energy to tackle this task.
It’s easy for family caregivers to feel overwhelmed at the prospect of handling these tasks. End of life care services are there for families while their aging adults are passing away and afterward when they need support figuring everything out.
If you or your aging loved one could benefit from End of Life Care Services in St. Matthews SC, contact the caring staff at Grove Park Hospice, at (803)536-6644.
Providing Hospice & Palliative Care in Orangeburg, Bamberg, & Calhoun Counties.
Our team provides care tailored to each patient and family’s individual needs and preferences. Our commitment to promoting comfort and dignity to persons living with a life‐limiting illness is demonstrated daily by our caring team of professionals and volunteers. Grove Park Hospice provides pain management and symptom control, allowing families to focus on what matters most. Our team of nurses certified nursing assistants, social workers, chaplains and volunteers spend quality time with patients, ensuring they are comfortable and at peace.
Choosing Grove Park Hospice means choosing to live life to its fullest. We focus on enhancing quality of life by offering an array of services to our patients and their families.
- Things to Expect from Hospice Care at Home - April 19, 2024
- Grove Park Hospice Newsletter Spring 2024 - April 12, 2024
- Ways to Cope with Loss - April 5, 2024
