Someone has died. Who do I call first?

Start with immediate care

If this is a medical emergency, call 911 now and follow the call-taker’s instructions. This website cannot provide emergency assistance. National 911 Program: calling 911

After a death in a hospital or nursing facility, speak with the staff about the next arrangements. If hospice was involved, contact that team and follow the plan already in place. For a death at home without hospice, seek instructions from the doctor, medical examiner, local health department, or funeral provider. National Institute on Aging: after someone dies

Write down the name of the person giving instructions and a callback number. Tell them about any important religious or family customs, and ask what is possible before any transfer.

Make the funeral-provider call specific

Begin with the location and the help you need. A useful opening is: “A family member has died in [place]. We need to understand the next arrangements and the costs before choosing a service.”

The FTC says funeral providers must answer requests for price information by telephone. You can ask about prices without first giving your contact details. FTC: your rights under the Funeral Rule

• Can you help with a transfer from this exact location, and what needs to happen before it can go ahead?
• What would you arrange now, what would each part cost, and what is outside that price?
• Who needs to authorize the arrangements, and how will you confirm that?
• Which decisions are time-sensitive in this situation, and who sets those deadlines?

Finish the call with one next action

Read back what you understood: the immediate action, the person handling it, any quoted charge, and the next contact. Ask the provider to send the proposed arrangements in writing. Keep “discussed,” “quoted,” and “authorized” separate in your notes.

If someone offers to help, give them a small job: take notes on the next call, locate any existing arrangements, or tell a few named relatives. Before ending the call, choose the next action you can actually complete. The rest can stay on a written question list.