Time Of Death
Few of us are prepared when a death occurs and we often need support and assistance both at the initial time of death and throughout the funeral planning process, as well as continued support as we come to terms with the loss.
Initial Steps
What Do I Do?
The majority of deaths are from natural causes and can occur in Hospitals, Aged Care Facilities or in the family home. In most cases, a Cause of Death Certificate will be issued by the attending Doctor.
Once you have contacted Gateway Funerals, we would recommend that you contact close family or friends to be with you if it is possible at this time. In our experience, having someone close-at-hand is invaluable as you are likely to benefit from the support and help during the immediate hours following the passing of a loved one.
Seek Immediate Support
When the death of a loved one occurs, feelings of panic and helplessness may be overwhelming, but remember that you are not alone.
It is important to reach out to close relatives, friends, and professionals for the help, support and comfort you need.
The initial telephone call made to a funeral home is known within the funeral industry as th
e First Call. During this call, we obtain basic information about you and your loved one, and try to guide and
prepare you for your next steps. Depending where the death occurred, we may also need to arrange bringing your loved one into our care.
Our funeral staff are on call 24 hours a day and will be able to guide you through the funeral arrangement process and answer any questions you may have at this time.
IF YOU NEED IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE CALL
(03) 9776 0299
24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR
Common Scenarios
The initial steps you need to take when a death occurs vary according to the location of the deceased and the circumstances surrounding their death. Here are a few common scenarios and the typical outcome of each:
At Home
The attending doctor will officially confirm the death and issue a Life Extinct Certificate or Cause of Death Certificate. You can then notify Gateway Grant Funerals and we can bring your loved one into our care. If a doctor is unavailable and your loved one has been under palliative care, you may use the services of a palliative care nurse who is able to issue an interim certificate.
Aged Care
Most aged care facilities require families to nominate their preferred funeral director when their family member becomes a resident of the facility. In this case, the staff will contact Gateway Grant Funerals once the family have been notified.
At Hospital
If the death occurs in hospital, the initial contact to Gateway Grant Funerals is not usually made by hospital staff, but by close family members. Once contact has been made with us, we will then coordinate with the hospital in order to bring your loved one into our care.
Unexpected Death
When a death is sudden or unexpected, a Doctor may not be able to issue the Cause of Death Certificate and the Coroner needs to be notified. This usually means that the Police Service will be required to attend in order to prepare a report for the Coroner to establish the cause of the death.