What to Do When Someone Dies

Many people are unsure of who to contact or what needs to be done when a death occurs. The following guidelines will help to ensure that our families are well-informed of their options. The necessary "next steps" usually depend on the location and circumstances of the death, so it is important that you understand what needs to be done in each situation.

Unanticipated death at home or elsewhere - In these situations, you should immediately call 911. Police and emergency medical personnel will respond and then determine the appropriate steps to take. Generally, the authorities will release the deceased directly to our care, so you just need to call the Long Funeral Home (610-866-8059) and we will come out to remove and transport the deceased. In some situations, such as when the cause of death is not apparent, the deceased may need to be taken to the Coroner or Medical Examiner's office. You will need to call the Long Funeral Home to inform us of the death and provide the location where the deceased was taken. We will directly contact the Coroner/Medical Examiner to determine when the deceased will be released to our care.

If death occurs in an Institution - When a death occurs at a hospital, hospice unit or a nursing/rehabilitation home, the medical staff will advise you of their legal process. As you complete their legal forms, you will need to inform the staff that the Long Funeral Home will be caring for the deceased. Normally, you will need to place a call to the Long Funeral Home, rather than the medical staff doing this for you. We will then coordinate with the medical facility to determine when the deceased will be released to our care.

Anticipated death at home - Today, many people with terminal illnesses are most comfortable at home under hospice care during the final stages of their illness. In this situation, you need to inform Hospice that Long Funeral Home will be in charge of the funeral arrangements. Hospice will either call us directly, or inform you to make the phone call, after which we will come out to your home to remove and transport the deceased. It is important to note that when someone is facing a terminal prognosis or entering hospice care, the family will often decide to make funeral arrangements in advance. This typically provides the family with peace of mind as well as confidence in the decisions which they make in advance, rather than waiting until a very emotional time to make these decisions. Some families also choose to prepay for the funeral, in order to more easily access funds which would otherwise be tied up while the estate is being settled.

Death out-of-state - If the death occurs out of state, you should call us immediately, 24 hours a day, at (610) 866-8059. We can then coordinate the transfer with a local funeral director at the place of death. We can often provide significant savings to our families by making all arrangements directly through our funeral home.

The above provides basic explanations of your options in typical situations. If you would like further information, please feel free to contact us at (610) 866-8059, or you may reach us via email at info@longfuneralhome.com.