If Death Occurs in a Nursing Facility
(read time is one minute) ŠKenneth C. Lambert, 2003
If death occurs at a nursing facility, generally the family has about four hours to get the body picked up. While I know of no legal time limit, Ken's experience has been that the nursing facilities and hospice get real frustrated if it takes longer. After four hours, the nursing facility gets really nervous. Most do not have a refrigeration facility.
As a family, do not make the mistake of simply walking away from the nursing facility without taking responsibility for selecting a funeral provider. The nursing facility could, and rightly so, call the local funeral provider who may be more expensive and manipulative than if you negotiated a deal using logic and sound coaching. Many families mistakenly think, "What would they do if they could not contact us when death occurs?" The nursing facility will do something, and your family will get the bill. And don't expect sympathy if you walk away and leave the nursing home staff hanging. Few will side with your family in this instance because you walked away from your responsibility and left them in the lurch.
You could also run into some hefty storage and refrigeration charges. Again, walk out, and you could be legally obligated if the nursing home selects a provider for you.
At the time of death is not really the time to do your own shopping. If you do, make sure you get a friend or a stable relative to help you. When you are in a bind, call Ken Lambert. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
ŠKenneth C. Lambert, 2003