Articles

What to do When Your Client Passes Away

23/01/2017

The longer you are a carer, the more likely it will be that you will be with a client who passes away while you are with them. While in a lot of instances, it will be a blessing – especially if your client was in a lot of pain – it will also be a very stressful time for you and family members.

Often the family will take care of the paperwork which must be assembled after a death, although you may be asked to assist with this. You will need to have certain documents ready and keep them at hand. This information will be used to register the death and only then can funeral arrangements be made.

If your client is at the End of Life stage, you should check with family or doctor whether there is a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) form in place. Another form which is used is the DNACPR (Do not attempt CPR). Ideally, before your client even passes away, this should be in place, and a copy in a place you can easily retrieve it. It is a good idea to put it in an envelope and tape it to the fridge. This sounds awful, but in reality, your client will not even know it is there. You will know, and you will be able to produce it when needed.

You must also know if your client has donated their body to Medical Science, as there is a different procedure for this. You will need to call the company instead of emergency services. The letter should be at hand to produce, and you should know where it is - again – on the fridge or notice board.

In the End of Life stage, it is a good idea to have a doctor visit every two weeks or less. The reason for this is that when your client passes away, unless they have been recently seen by a doctor, an autopsy will be required. In and already stressful situation where everyone knows how the patient has died, it only serves to increase tension. Have a doctor visit within two weeks and keep a note of the date of the last visit.

The first thing you should do if your client has passed away with you. Let's assume you are on your own when this happens. Ideally, you should call emergency services, and then the family. Practically, though you will be on the phone to emergency services a good long time, so it makes sense to make one quick call to a family member letting them know what has happened, and that you are going to call emergency services. 

If your client has died and the DNR or DNACPR is in place, then the first call you should make is to the doctor, to request a visit to certify the death. There is no need to call an ambulance as they cannot certify the death, and there is no need to resuscitate. Realistically it may be some time before the doctor arrives as this is no longer an emergency, so be prepared to wait. The doctor will arrive and certify the death. A medical certificate may be issued there and then, certainly if the doctor has visited recently.

If there is no DNR or DNACPR in place, then you are legally obliged to call the emergency services. When they arrive, they may or may not try to resuscitate, but that will be their decision, not yours.

 

Documents you will need to gather together:

1. Medical certificate of the cause of death, signed and dated by the doctor.

2. Birth certificate if available

3. Marriage/partnership certificate

4. NHS number or NHS medical card

​​

The information you will need to provide at some point:

1. Name, address

2. Previous names

3. Place of birth

4. Date of birth

5. Organ Donor Cards

6. Religion

7. Whether they were receiving state pension

 

You will not normally be required to do this, as it should be done by family, or POA and must be done within 5 days after death:

1. Register the death

2. Contact a funeral director

 

If family members want to come and say their goodbyes to the person, then you should always let them. People will want to talk to you, as you were the last person to be with your client, so be prepared to explain repeatedly what has happened. Keep to the facts, do not make up stories about the death. Be prepared to listen, wipe away tears, be a shoulder to cry on, give out plenty of hugs, and make many cups of tea!