What to Do The First 24 Hours After A Loss

Receiving the phone call that someone you love has passed can leave you feeling shocked, overwhelmed, and unsure of what to do next. The first 24 hours often bring both emotional weight and immediate responsibilities. This checklist is meant to help you take things one step at a time. The first 24 hours aren’t about doing everything. They’re about not doing the wrong things.

Take Care of What’s Immediate

  • Pause and take a breath. Shock, numbness, or confusion are all normal responses.
  • Confirm the death medically. If the death occurs at home and was unexpected (not under hospice care), your first call should be to 911 so a professional can officially pronounce the death. If the death occurred in a hospital or facility, the staff will guide you through this. 
  • Arrange temporary care. Ensure that children, elders, or pets are safe and supported with temporary care.

Contact a Funeral Home or Cremation Service 

  • Coordinate transportation. Once the death is pronounced, you will need to contact a funeral home or cremation service. The funeral home’s immediate role is to transport and care for the body, file the death certificate, and coordinate timing with any donation or religious requirements; service details can be decided later. Families should prioritize availability, flexibility, and clear pricing over décor or packages, and ask whether embalming can be delayed, what decisions are required in the first 24–48 hours, and whether services can be held later or elsewhere. 
  • Check for time-sensitive wishes such as organ/tissue or whole body donation. Review any known wishes regarding organ donation or body donation to science, as these decisions often must be made within the first few hours. If donation is a possibility, families should notify hospital staff or the appropriate organization right away; eligibility is determined at the time of death based on medical and timing factors, not just a donor designation. Organ and tissue donation are coordinated through hospital teams and national systems like Donate Life and UNOS, and families should expect medical screening, consent forms, and possible delays in release of the body that can affect funeral timing. Whole-body donation requires rapid acceptance by a specific program and is never guaranteed, and embalming or autopsy can permanently eliminate eligibility—so if there is any uncertainty, families should clearly state that donation is being explored and ask the funeral home to pause embalming until a decision is confirmed.

Utilize a Biohazard Cleaning Company, If Needed

  • Biohazard cleaning. Eek we know this is tough to talk about but Biohazard cleaning may be required after a death and is not handled by funeral homes or regular cleaners. If a death occurred at home—particularly if it was unattended or involved bodily fluids—families should arrange professional biohazard cleanup after the body is removed and avoid attempting cleanup themselves, as improper handling can pose health risks and affect insurance claims. Not all biohazard companies are created equal and in our experience the pricing for this and what each company will do varies greatly so be sure to have someone do the research and find a reputable company that is known of doing honest work. 

Focus Next on Creating Stability

  • Choose a “Point Person.” Designate one trusted person to help share updates with family and friends so you aren’t overwhelmed by repetitive phone calls.
  • Secure the home. Lock doors and windows. Ensure that valuables, medications, and sensitive personal items are safeguarded.
  • Address the “small” essentials. Empty the trash and dispose of any perishable food in the refrigerator. These small tasks prevent a distressing situation when you return to the home later.
  • Notify the employer. If your loved one was employed, a quick call to HR or their supervisor helps them manage the workplace and begins the process of clarifying benefits or final paychecks.
  • Keep up with the lost loved ones personal items. Items collected (wallet, phone, keys, jewelry) and where they are now, who has them, when will you get them back. 
  • Gather important documents. Look for wills, trusts, insurance policies, and identification. Specifically, check for “Pre-need” contracts to see if funeral arrangements were already paid for or planned.

The First 24 Hours Are Not a Time For:

There is a time and place for all the listed below but it is not within the first 24 hours. Most of the below actions (and beyond) can wait until after the services (or at least 2 weeks after the loss):

  • Giving out items of the lost loved one to other family members. There is a time for this but it is certainly not in the first 24 hours. Be clear with family and friends that you will get back to them after the services. 
  • Calling financial institutions, or other organizations to notify of passing
  • Posting on social media about your loss 
  • Trying to log in to your lost loved ones phone if you don’t know the passcode- locking yourself out permanently poses more issues than waiting.

Local Resources in Nashville

Sunny Care Services does not help with time of death activities, so if you are navigating this journey in Middle Tennessee, these local experts provide compassionate guidance:

If you or someone you love is navigating a loss right now, we encourage you to send them this post. If you want to be better prepared for the future, save the checklist for when it’s needed.

The first 24 hours after loss are about finding steadiness, not completing a checklist. Some things will wait, and others may feel clearer with time. Accept help when it’s offered, pause major decisions when possible, and be kind to yourself.

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We care for families going through the major life transitions brought on by an aging loved one or losing a loved one.  Our goal is to relieve the burdensome tasks from your plate so you can focus on what’s most important to you and your family.

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