What do I do if someone dies in a care home or hospice?

What care home and hospice staff do after a death, and what you need to do next.

Updated September 29, 2026

When someone dies in a care home or hospice, the staff take care of the first steps and will let you know.

What the care home or hospice does

Staff contact the family. Under BC's Residential Care Regulation, a licensed care facility must immediately notify the resident's representative or contact person, and their doctor or nurse practitioner, when a resident dies.

A doctor or nurse practitioner completes the Medical Certificate of Death within 48 hours. If the death may be the result of an accident, or its cause is not clear, it must be reported to the BC Coroners Service, and the coroner will tell you when the person can be moved.

Calling a funeral provider

After a death in a care home or hospice, the family calls the funeral provider they have chosen, who brings the person directly into its care.

Only the person with the legal right to make the arrangements can authorize this. If there is a will, that is the executor named in it. If there is no will, BC law sets an order that starts with the spouse, then adult children. See who can arrange a cremation in BC. If you are not that person, let them know, or call us and we can explain how it works.

Take the time you need to be with the person and to reach family. If you are unsure how long the person can stay at the care home or hospice, ask the staff.

Personal belongings

Ask the staff about the person's belongings. Vancouver Coastal Health's booklet for families notes that care facilities store belongings if the family can't take them at the time of death, and that they are usually picked up within a few days.

Calling us

We answer the phone 24 hours a day at (604) 856-2346. You can make the arrangements online, or in person at our office or your home for an extra cost. A transfer from a care home or hospice is an extra charge, listed on our pricing page.

For the other steps in the days ahead, see what to do when someone dies in British Columbia.

If you have questions at any point, call us at any hour or contact us online.