Page 11 - NBY December 2020 Issue

Dealing with Death and Grief

What To Do After Someone Dies This can be done by a funeral home or by
the family themselves in most states. The
Nothing has to be done immediately hospital or nursing facility, if that is
after a person’s death. Take the time where the death took place, may help with
you need. Some people want to stay in these arrangements. If at home, you will
the room with the body; others prefer need to contact the funeral home directly,
to leave. You might want to have make arrangements yourself, or ask a
someone make sure the body is lying friend or family member to do that.
flat before the joints become stiff. Thus The doctor may ask if you want an
rigor mortis begins sometime during autopsy. This is a medical procedure
the first few hours after death. conducted by a specially trained physician
After the death, how long you can to learn more about what caused the
stay with the body may depend on death. For example, if the person who
where death happens. If it happens at died was believed to have Alzheimer’s
home, there is no need to move the disease, a brain autopsy will allow for a READING: A Great Past Time
body right away. This is the time for definitive diagnosis. If your religion or
any special religious, ethnic, or cultural culture objects to autopsies, talk to the The Library of Congress has thousands
customs that are performed soon after doctor. Some people planning a funeral
death. with a viewing worry about having an of books on line - Open to the Public Interested on serving on a jury?
Interested on serving on a jury?
Interested on serving on a jury?
Interested on serving on a jury?
Interested on serving on a jury?
Jury Service
Jury Sery Servicevice
Jur
Jury Sery Servicevice
If the death seems likely to happen in autopsy, but the physical signs of an and FREE to read. GO TO Jur
a facility, such as a hospital or nursing autopsy are usually hidden by clothing
Orange County: 657-622-7000
Orange County: 657-622-7000
Orange County: 657-622-7000
Orange County: 657-622-7000
Orange County: 657-622-7000
home, discuss any important customs and other body preparation techniques. www.read.gov San Bernardino: 909-884-1858
San Bernardino: 909-884-1858
San Bernardino: 909-884-1858
San Bernardino: 909-884-1858
San Bernardino: 909-884-1858
or rituals with the staff early on, if It is recommended to order ten (10) Los Angeles: lacourt.org
Los Angeles: lacourt.org
Los Angeles: lacourt.org
Los Angeles: lacourt.org
Los Angeles: lacourt.org
possible. That will allow them to plan copies of the death certificate. Over the
so you can have the appropriate time next few weeks, you may want and need
with the body. to notify a few places about your loved
Some families want time to sit one’s death. This may include:
quietly with the body, console each · The Social Security
other, and maybe share memories. You Administration. If the deceased was
could ask a member of your religious receiving Social Security benefits, you
community or a spiritual counselor to need to stop the checks.
come. If you have a list of people to · Life insurance companies. You
notify, this is the time to call those who will need a death certificate and policy
might want to come and see the body numbers to make claims on any policies.
before it is moved. · Credit agencies. To prevent
As soon as possible, the death must identity theft, you will want to send
be officially pronounced by someone copies of the death certificate to three
in authority like a doctor in a hospital major firms: Equifax, Experian, and
or nursing facility or a hospice nurse. TransUnion.
This person also fills out the forms · Banks and financial institutions. If
certifying the cause, time, and place of your loved one left a list of
death. These steps will make it possible accounts and passwords, it will be
for an official death certificate to be much easier to close or change
prepared. This legal form is necessary accounts. You will need a copy of
for many reasons, including life the death certificate if the person
insurance and financial and property did not leave a list
issues.
If the person was in hospice, a plan Grief during COVID-19. Grieving the
for what happens after death will loss of a loved one can be especially hard See Page RESOURCES ~ There are thousands of federal, state, and
already be in place. If death happens at during COVID-19. Due to physical private benefit programs that help pay for prescription
home without hospice, try to talk with distancing guidelines, visiting a loved 18 for drugs, health care, utilities, and other basic needs for
the doctor, local medical examiner one at his or her end-of-life and attending adults over 55. www.benefitscheckup.org;
(coroner), your local health a funeral service may not be possible. It details 1-202-479-1200
department, or a funeral home can also affect the ability of friends and on the National Council on Aging.
representative in advance about how to family to come together in person and
proceed. You can also consider a home grieve in typical ways. The CDC virtual We appreciate that you can enjoy Not Born
funeral, which is legal in most states. [www.cdc.gov] offers information about Yesterday! on the INTERNET since the pandemic
Arrangements should be made to actions you can take to help cope with senior came along. We are grateful for our contributors
pick up the body as soon as the family loss and additional funeral guidance expo. who provide excellent information and our
is ready and according to local laws. during COVID-19. advertisers’ support in order to keep publishing.
Source: www.nih.gov

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