End of Life — Funerals & After Death

The death of a resident in a residential aged care facility is a significant event managed with compassion, legal rigour, and respect for the person's dignity and their family's grief. Staff play a crucial role in this process.

Immediate steps after a death is confirmed:

1. Confirm cessation of life — The RN on duty performs a clinical assessment confirming death (absent pulse, absent respirations, absent pupil response, fixed/dilated pupils). A medical certificate of cause of death must be issued by the treating GP or a medical officer. RNs in Australia cannot certify death — only medical practitioners can.

2. Notify the facility Nurse Unit Manager (NUM) and Director of Nursing — Even out of hours.

3. Contact the GP — The treating GP must attend to certify the cause of death, or arrange for another medical officer to do so if unavailable.

4. Contact the next of kin / emergency contact — With compassion, in person or by phone. Use clear, direct language. Avoid euphemisms like "passed" or "gone" — say "has died" clearly. Family may wish to come to be with their person.

5. Care of the body — The resident is washed, dressed in their preferred clothing (documented in care plan or known to staff), and laid with dignity. Cultural and religious rituals specific to the person's background must be honoured. Consult the care plan and family.

6. Preserve the environment — Do not remove personal belongings until family have been informed and ideally attended. The room may be preserved for a short period to allow family to say goodbye.

7. Documentation — The death must be documented accurately in the clinical record, including time of death, who was present, who was notified, and care provided.

When is the Coroner notified?

Under Australian law, certain deaths must be reported to the Coroner:

• Unexpected or unexplained death (not clearly related to known illness)

• Death within 24 hours of a fall or injury

• Death during or immediately after a medical procedure

• Death where the person's identity is unknown

• Death due to suspected neglect, abuse, or violence

• Death where no GP can certify the cause

If uncertain — always contact your state/territory Coroner's office for guidance. The NUM or senior RN will manage this, but all staff should understand the requirement.