When someone is in hospice: a free checklist for getting ready

Talk together while you can

Now, gently, a little at a time0 of 4

Ask what matters most to them now: who they want to see, music, faith, and where they want to be.
Ask about their wishes for after: burial or cremation, a service, and who should be told.
Ask where their important papers are, and who they trust to handle things.
Say what you want to say. Many families also record stories, voices or recipes while they can.

This week0 of 6

The original will and any trust. Write down who has the original.
Copies help, but courts usually want the original will.
Life insurance policies, pension and retirement statements, and recent bank and investment statements.
Deeds, car titles and the latest mortgage statement.
Their Social Security number, birth certificate, and marriage or divorce papers.
The funeral home asks for some of these to fill out the death certificate and to report the death to Social Security.
Military discharge papers (DD214), if they served. They're needed for veterans' burial benefits.
VA burial benefits and memorial itemsva.gov (opens in a new tab)
Any prepaid funeral contract or cemetery plot papers.

While they can still decide0 of 5

If they can still make decisions, ask whether they have a health care power of attorney and an advance directive.
CaringInfo: free advance directive forms by statecaringinfo.org (opens in a new tab)
Ask whether they have a financial power of attorney. It lets someone pay their bills now, but it ends when they die.
Check who is named as beneficiary on life insurance, retirement accounts and payable-on-death bank accounts.
Those usually go straight to the named person, outside the will.
Talk to a lawyer before anyone changes who owns the home or accounts. It can affect taxes, Medicaid and the rest of the family.
Ask the bank how money for the funeral and urgent bills can be reached after the death.

While they can still choose0 of 5

If they use an iPhone or iPad, help them add a Legacy Contact to their Apple account.
Apple: add a Legacy Contactsupport.apple.com (opens in a new tab)
If they use Gmail or an Android phone, set up Google's Inactive Account Manager.
Google: Inactive Account Managersupport.google.com (opens in a new tab)
On Facebook, choose a legacy contact, or decide whether the profile should be deleted.
Facebook: legacy contacts and what happens to an accountfacebook.com (opens in a new tab)
Write down which email, bank, phone and shopping accounts they have.
Ask where they keep passwords. After the death, use each company's own process rather than signing in as them.
Plan to keep their cell phone line on for a while after. Many accounts send sign-in codes to it.

Before you need them0 of 4

Call two or more funeral homes for prices. You have the right to get prices over the phone.
FTC: Shopping for funeral servicesftc.gov (opens in a new tab)
Know that you can buy a casket or urn somewhere else. The funeral home must give you written price lists.
If they served, ask the VA about burial in a national cemetery. You can apply ahead of time.
VA: pre-need eligibility for burial in a VA cemeteryva.gov (opens in a new tab)
If they have a prepaid plan, call to confirm what it covers and what it doesn't.

All along0 of 4

Ask the hospice team what help they offer the family, including respite care and grief support.
National Institute on Aging: questions about hospicenia.nih.gov (opens in a new tab)
Medicare covers hospice care from a Medicare-approved hospice, and you pay nothing for the hospice care itself.
Small copays can apply for prescriptions and for inpatient respite care.
Medicare: hospice care coveragemedicare.gov (opens in a new tab)
If you work, ask about family leave. The FMLA can give eligible workers up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave to care for a spouse, child or parent.
Labor Department: family leave (FMLA)dol.gov (opens in a new tab)
Let friends help with meals, rides and errands. A written list of jobs makes it easy for them to say yes.

Know this ahead of time0 of 4

Ask the hospice team now what to do when the death happens and who to call first. Keep their 24-hour number by the phone.
National Institute on Aging: what to do after someone diesnia.nih.gov (opens in a new tab)
A hospice nurse can make the official pronouncement of death.
The funeral home can come when your family is ready. Take the time you need.
Afterward, our week-by-week plan walks you through what comes next.
Open the week-by-week plan