I’m lost with what I need to do w/my mom’s body when she passes away in the nursing home.
She has Medicaid & Medicare.
She or I have no $ to pay for her to be cremated.
I have no funeral home in mind to cremate her or anything of that nature.
Who would pick up my mom’s body, where would they take her?
I don’t know the steps involved, who to call, etc.
Please help.
You are right to want to be prepared. Keep askng questions.
I would speak to the NH to see what options may be available in your area. Take care.
1. Talk with the social worker at the NH as they should be able to assist/guide to resources.
2. Call Medicaid to ask if your mother can put away any funds for final arrangements.
3. Here’s link to site with helpful information: https://www.needhelppayingbills.comhtml/help_with_funeral_costs.html
4. If your mom was on SS, check with them.
5. If the estate, closest living relative and other next of kin relatives lack the funds to pay for a funeral, the person handling the death can sign a release form at the coroner's office. The form is a declaration that you are unable to afford to bury or cremate the family member. Once signed, it releases the body to the corner to handle the remains. If your family wishes to receive the ashes, a fee may be charged for their return.
6. https://www.funeralwise.com/2018/01/22/how-to-pay-for-a-funeral-when-there-isnt-any-money
http://www.us-funerals.com/funeral-articles/indigent-burials-and-cremations.html
Is your mom still on hospice or did they remove her from that program? If someone passes away while on hospice, I believe you call the hospice nurse. (I believe that's who we called; it might have been a different number but it was in the hospice folder they gave us.) They send someone to the nursing home to confirm that the person is passed and they transport them. At least that is what ours did. Otherwise the nursing home should be able to tell you what to do. If you are not with your mom when she passes, I believe the nursing home would contact you and most likely contact the coroner's office but definitely just ask them. They will understand that you are concerned about it.
I would start by talking to the NH social worker, and if your mom is still on hospice, phone their contact person as well. I don't know if this would apply in your mom's case, but Illinois is supposed to have a program through DHS that will help pay for the cost of cremation and/or burial. I will message you the link. But the social worker might be able to help you with more information.
I hope you are doing ok and that your mom isn't in pain. Hugs to you.
We had our mother’s funeral prepaid and they were called by the NH staff. My mom died at 3am, she was taken to the funeral home by 6am.
Hospice doesn’t transport people here.
I imagine you are stressed knowing all this. Funerals are expensive. I hope you get resources to work with you to solve this. I too would speak to the NH SW.
I sincerely hope you can resolve this so you can spend time with your mom during her last days on earth. You have been such a good son to her.
See All Answers