When Someone Dies in a Care Home

When a resident dies, the care home follows a set procedure. A member of staff will contact you if you are not already there. You can visit the person and spend time with them; there is no rush.

The care home will:

• Contact the person's GP or the out-of-hours medical service to verify the death
• Only a registered medical practitioner can issue the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD)
• Prepare the person with dignity and care
• Secure the person's belongings and create an inventory of items in the room
• In England, notify the Care Quality Commission (CQC) of the death

You do not need to make any decisions straight away. Take the time you need.

Since 9 September 2024, all deaths in England and Wales that are not investigated by a coroner are reviewed by a Medical Examiner. This is a senior doctor who independently checks the cause of death stated on the medical certificate.

What this means for families:

• The Medical Examiner's office will contact the next of kin for a brief conversation about the person's final illness and care
• This is a routine part of the process, not an investigation
• For expected deaths, the review usually completes within 24 hours
• More complex cases may take 48-72 hours
• Once the review is complete, the MCCD is issued and you can register the death

This system does not apply in Scotland or Northern Ireland, where different arrangements are in place.

In some cases, the death will be referred to the coroner rather than (or in addition to) the Medical Examiner. Common reasons include:

• The cause of death is unclear or unknown
• The death was sudden or unexpected
• The person died within 24 hours of being admitted to the care home
• The death may be linked to a fall, accident, or injury
• The death may be connected to medication
• A doctor had not seen the person within 28 days before the death

The coroner will review the circumstances and decide whether a post-mortem examination is needed. In most care home deaths, the coroner releases the body quickly after review. If a formal inquest is opened, the funeral cannot proceed until the coroner releases the body.

The rules for registering a death differ across the UK.

England and Wales

• You must register the death within 5 days
• Register in the district where the care home is located
• After registration, use the Tell Us Once service to notify multiple government departments at the same time

Scotland

• You must register the death within 8 days
• You can register in the district where the death occurred or where the person normally lived
• There is no Medical Examiner system in Scotland

Northern Ireland

• You must register the death within 5 days
• There is no Medical Examiner system in Northern Ireland
• The Tell Us Once service is not available in Northern Ireland

For a full overview of what to do in the first days and weeks, see our guide on what to do when someone dies.

Most care home contracts allow 7-14 days for the family to collect the person's belongings from the room. Check the contract for the exact timeframe, as fees may continue until the room is cleared.

• The care home should have created an inventory of the person's belongings
• Ask for a copy of the inventory and check it against what you collect
• If you need more time, speak to the care home manager - most will be flexible
• The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has issued guidance on what care homes can reasonably charge for room clearance and storage

The care home's final invoice is paid from the estate, not by the next of kin personally. Family members are not liable for care home fees unless they signed as guarantor or signed a third-party top-up agreement.

Key points about fees after the death:

• Post-death charges: Most contracts allow 3-10 days of charges after the date of death. Check the original contract for the exact terms
• Deferred Payment Agreements: If the person had a DPA with the local authority, repayment is typically expected within 90 days. Contact the local authority promptly
• Top-up fee obligations: If a family member was paying a third-party top-up, that obligation usually ends on the date of death
• Room charges: Fees should not continue once a new resident moves into the room

For detailed guidance on care home fees, refund claims, and NHS Continuing Healthcare, see our guide on care home fees after death.

Within the first 24 hours

• Ask the care home staff about the medical certificate and when it will be ready
• Find out whether the death is being referred to the Medical Examiner or the coroner
• Visit the person if you wish to
• Think about which funeral director you would like to use
• Locate the person's will if you know where it is kept

Within the first week

• Register the death
• Use the Tell Us Once service (England, Wales, and Scotland)
• Contact a funeral director to begin arrangements
• Notify the person's bank, pension provider, and insurance company
• Check the care home's final invoice against the contract

Within the first month

• Collect belongings from the care home
• Contact the local authority about any Deferred Payment Agreement
• Begin the probate process (or confirmation in Scotland)
• Check whether the person was ever assessed for NHS Continuing Healthcare - if not, the estate may be entitled to a refund of care home fees