What to Do When Someone Dies at Home in Northern Kentucky

When someone dies at home, the first minutes can feel unreal. You may not know who to call, or whether to call anyone yet. Here is what to do, step by step. You don't have to figure it out alone.

Call 859-431-0072 any time, day or night, every day of the year.

If your loved one was under hospice care

Call the hospice nurse first, even in the middle of the night. A death under hospice care is expected, so families usually don't need to call 911, and the hospice team will tell you what to do.

Call us at 859-431-0072 once the nurse has confirmed the death.

If there was no hospice care, or the death was unexpected

Call 911. Tell the dispatcher what happened and follow their directions.

When there was no hospice care, police or the county coroner may come to the house. That is routine after an unexpected death at home. The coroner may need to finish their work before we can bring your loved one into our care. Once they say we can, call us.

Take the time you need

There is no need to rush. If you would like to sit with your loved one, say a prayer, or call family to come say goodbye, take that time. We come when you are ready, day or night.

When you call us

We will ask a few simple questions, including where your loved one is. Then we come and bring your loved one into our care with dignity.

We serve families across Northern Kentucky, from Ludlow and Covington to Fort Mitchell, Erlanger, Independence, and Florence. Most homes are within about 20 minutes of the Bentley House.

The next day or two

Usually within a day or two, we sit down with your family at the Bentley House in Ludlow. Together we plan the service, write the obituary, and go over your choices and prices. It helps to bring:

• Your loved one's Social Security number
• Their military discharge papers (DD-214), if they served
• A prepaid funeral plan, life insurance policy, or cemetery deed, if they had one
• Clothing and a few favorite photos

If you can't find everything, come anyway. We can fill in the rest later.

What we take care of

We file the death certificate, order certified copies for you, and report the death to Social Security. If your loved one was a veteran, we request the military honors and apply for the benefits they earned. We explain each step as we go, so you always know what comes next.

We're here

Ronald B. Jones Funeral Home has cared for Northern Kentucky families since 1935.

Call 859-431-0072 whenever you need us. Our common questions page answers more of what families ask.