When somebody you love passes away, you may experience a flurry of emotions. It is very likely that you will experience a sense of loss and sadness, which can make it very difficult to pursue the next steps. You may need some help to get you through the next stages. If you feel unsure about what to do next, these tips will help you through the process.

Alert a Medical Professional

If you are the first person at the scene when somebody dies, it is important that you contact a professional. If the death occurs at a hospital or nursing home, you should get a doctor or nurse on the scene to see if there is anything he or she needs to do. In some cases, resuscitation may be an option.

If you anticipated or expected the death to occur, you should still call 911 or the hospice nurse. Inform the individual that the death was expected.

Call 911

If the death was sudden or unexpected, call 911. Even if you suspect there is no chance of resuscitation, it is an emergency that requires 911 professionals to arrive on the scene and check out the situation. It is very important that you do not skip this step.

Determine if a Plan Is in Place

For some people, planning a funeral or service is something that has already happened. Of course, some deaths are very unexpected, and the individual in question may not have planned anything just yet. Your first step should be to see if your loved one had made any decisions or even paid for the funeral already.

Contact a Funeral Home

Your next step is to call a funeral home. The home will determine the next steps you need to take. For instance, they may pick up your loved one's remains and bring him or her to the memorial and the cremation site.

The next steps involve making a lot of decisions. These decisions can be difficult in your time of grief, but you will have somebody to guide you through the process of planning a service and ensuring that your loved one is respected and loved even after they are gone.

Funeral homes can help you through the difficult process of understanding how cremation and the funeral service should work. Speak with a professional with a company like Union Funeral Home-Lytwyn & Lytwyn to learn more about your options for planning a service or memorial for your loved one.

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