What to Do After an Unattended Death at Home

Finding a loved one, neighbor or tenant who died alone is a shock, and it is normal to feel unsure what to do next. This guide covers the first hours and days in order, with a focus on what matters most and what can wait.

First: call 911

Call 911 even if it seems obvious that the person has died and that nothing can be done. Emergency dispatchers will send the right people, which usually means police and emergency medical personnel. In most places, a death that happens outside a hospital or without a doctor in attendance is reported to the local medical examiner or coroner, who decides whether further examination is needed. Your call starts that process.

While you wait:

• Leave the room and close the door if you can do so without touching much.
• Do not move the person, wash anything, or tidy up. Authorities need to see the scene as it was found.
• Keep children, pets and other visitors out of the area.
• If you feel faint or unwell, step outside for fresh air.

What police and the medical examiner do

It can take some time for everyone to arrive and finish their work, sometimes several hours. It is fine to wait outside, in a car, or with a neighbor. If you need to leave, tell the officers how to reach you.

Officers will ask simple questions: who the person is, when they were last seen or heard from, and how you came to find them. This is routine and does not mean anyone suspects you. The medical examiner or coroner's office will arrange to transport the person and may ask for the name of a funeral home. If you do not have one yet, they can usually hold the person for a time while the family decides.

Ask the officers or medical examiner staff for a case or report number and a contact name. You will want these later for the funeral home, insurance, and the cleanup company.

When the home is released

Once authorities finish, they release the home back to the owner, family or landlord. Only then should any cleanup begin. Our guide on what to expect after police release a scene explains this handoff.

Why you should not clean the area yourself

When a death goes unnoticed for some time, the natural decomposition process releases fluids that soak into mattresses, upholstery, carpet, pad and sometimes the subfloor. These fluids can carry bacteria and viruses, and the odor they create clings to porous materials. OSHA treats cleanup of blood and bodily fluids after unattended deaths as work covered by its Bloodborne Pathogens standard, which requires trained workers, protective equipment and proper waste handling.

Household cleaners, scrubbing and air fresheners do not solve the underlying problem and can spread contamination. Please do not:

• Try to wash or scrub stained areas
• Drag a mattress, chair or rug out of the home
• Use a household vacuum or steam cleaner on the area
• Run central air or heat through the room for long periods if you can avoid it
• Seal the room with tape and leave it for weeks, which allows odor to worsen

Our guide on how decomposition odor is removed explains why masking products do not work.

The practical list for the next few days

People and paperwork

• Notify close family members.
• Choose a funeral home and give them the medical examiner's contact details.
• Request several official copies of the death certificate once available. Banks, insurers and agencies often ask for originals.
• Locate the person's will, insurance policies, lease or deed, and recent bills if you can do so without entering the affected room.

The property

• Secure the home. Lock doors, and collect spare keys if possible.
• If it is a rental, notify the landlord or property manager. Our landlord guide covers their side of the process.
• Call the homeowners or renters insurer to report the loss. Our guide on insurance coverage explains what is often covered.
• Keep pets that lived in the home with a friend or boarding facility for now.
• Arrange professional cleanup after the home is released.

What cleanup usually involves

An unattended death cleanup typically includes removing contaminated porous materials such as the mattress, upholstered furniture, carpet and pad; cutting out affected sections of flooring or drywall where fluid reached them; cleaning and disinfecting hard surfaces; and treating remaining odor at its source. Personal items, papers and keepsakes found during the work should be set aside for the family. Our guide on what happens during professional cleanup walks through each step.

If you are the landlord, neighbor or friend who found them

People who discover an unattended death are often not family. If you are a landlord, building manager, neighbor or friend, your role after calling 911 is mostly to help authorities reach next of kin and to keep the home secure. Share what you know about relatives or emergency contacts. Avoid removing anything from the home, including valuables or paperwork, unless police ask you to; family members or the person's legal representative will make those decisions. Keep a short written note of what you saw and when, since you may be asked about it later.

Taking care of yourself

Discovering a death can stay with you. Trouble sleeping, replaying the moment, or feeling numb are common reactions. Talk with people you trust, and consider a counselor or your doctor if the feelings are not easing. If you are in emotional distress, you can call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which offers free, confidential support at any hour.

When to call a professional

Call a biohazard cleanup company once authorities release the home, especially if there is staining, odor, or the person was not found right away. If you would like help understanding what is involved, you can reach New Dawn Bio Restoration or call 615-914-0790. We are planning service across Tennessee and neighboring states; please call to confirm availability at your location.

Related services

• Blood cleanup

  Removal and disinfection of blood and the materials it has soaked into, whether the spill is small or large, recent or days old.

• Unattended death cleanup

  Cleanup and restoration of a home or room after someone has passed away and was not discovered for some time.

• Decomposition and odor cleanup

  Removal of decomposition fluids and the materials holding them, followed by treatment to clear the odor from the structure and air.

Related guides

• Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Biohazard Cleanup?

  Homeowners insurance often helps pay for biohazard cleanup when the contamination comes from a sudden, accidental event such as a death, injury or crime in the

• What to Expect After Police Release a Crime Scene

  When police release a crime scene, investigators have finished collecting evidence and control of the property returns to the owner or occupant. Police do not c

• How Decomposition Odor Is Removed, and Why Air Fresheners Don't Work

  Decomposition odor is removed by taking out its source: the fluids and tissue residue that soaked into mattresses, flooring, subfloor and walls. Once the source

• What to Do With a Loved One's Belongings After a Traumatic Death

  After a traumatic death, only belongings that were contaminated need a prompt decision, for health reasons. Everything else can wait until the family is ready.