What to Do When Someone Dies in a Care Home

When a loved one dies, grief and practical tasks arrive at the same time — and it's hard to think clearly. This gentle, step-by-step guide sets out what happens after a death in a care home, so you don't have to work it out alone.

First, please be kind to yourself. There's no perfect way to do this, and most things can wait a little while. Care-home staff deal with this often and will guide you with compassion. Below is what typically happens and what you'll need to do, roughly in order. (The details here follow the system in England, Wales and Northern Ireland; Scotland differs slightly, as noted.)

In the first hours

If the death was expected, there's usually no rush and no need to call emergency services. The care home will:

• Contact a doctor to confirm the death and, in due course, provide the medical certificate of cause of death
• Notify you and any others on the contact list
• Help with the immediate practicalities, and give you time to sit with your loved one if you wish

You'll need to choose a funeral director, who can bring the person into their care — there's no need to decide everything at once, but this is usually the first call you make. Take your time; you can visit again later at the funeral director's if you'd like.

In the first few days: registering the death

A death must be registered — within 5 days in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (within 8 days in Scotland), though this can pause if a coroner is involved. You book an appointment with the local register office (usually the one for the area where the person died). They'll give you the documents you need to arrange the funeral and deal with the estate.

Telling people: the Tell Us Once service

When you register the death, you'll usually be offered Tell Us Once — a free government service that notifies most departments (HMRC, DWP/pensions, DVLA, the passport office, the local council and more) in one go, so you don't have to contact each separately. It's a real relief at a hard time. You'll still need to tell banks, insurers, utilities and private pensions yourself; ask each what they need.

Settling the estate

Dealing with the person's money and property is called administering the estate. Depending on what they owned, you may need to apply for probate (or "confirmation" in Scotland) — legal authority to deal with the estate. If there's a will, it names the executors who handle this; if not, the law sets who can. A solicitor can help with anything complex, and organisations like Citizens Advice offer free guidance.

Practical matters with the care home

• Arrange to collect belongings when you feel ready — there's no rush, and staff will keep them safe.
• Check the contract for what happens to fees after a death — usually a short, reasonable notice period, which should be clearly set out.
• If any funded care or benefits were in place, these will need stopping (Tell Us Once covers state benefits and pensions).