Washing and laying out the body
After a death, the funeral director usually cares for the person's body: washing and drying them, closing the eyelids and mouth, and tidying their hair. If you would like to, you can help wash and dress them. You can also ask to keep the body at home before the funeral, and to have cultural or religious practices followed. (Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust)
Signposting, not medical adviceSources checked 28 September 2026
Taking part
If you would like to, you can help the funeral director wash and dress your relative or friend. They may ask what you would like the person to be dressed in, such as a particular outfit or jewellery that meant something to them. Let them know as soon as you can. (Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust)
End of life doulas can also support families with care of the body after a death. (End of Life Doula UK)
Keeping the body at home
Some people like to keep the person at home before the funeral. The funeral director can tell you how long the body can stay at home and what you need to do. (Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust)
Cultural and religious wishes
Tell the funeral director about any cultural or religious practices you would like followed. They will do their best to accommodate them. (Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust)
Embalming
Embalming, which funeral directors sometimes call 'hygienic treatment', means the body is disinfected and treated to help preserve it. It is usually done if the family wants to visit in the chapel of rest more than a day or two after the death. It is a choice, and the funeral director can tell you more. (Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust)
Related pages
If you need help now
If someone's life is in danger, call 999. If you need medical help urgently and are not sure what to do, call 111 (NHS 111 in England and Wales, NHS 24 in Scotland). In Northern Ireland, nidirect explains where to get urgent help.
If someone has just died
- If the death was expected, at home
- Contact their GP. If community nurses have been visiting, call them too: they can verify the death. Outside surgery hours, contact the on-call doctor.
- If the death was unexpected
- Call 999 straight away and explain what has happened. The police will also be told, because the coroner needs to know.
Sources: NHS: when to call 999 · NHS: when to use 111 · Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust · nidirect: when someone dies at home
Sources
- Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust: Bereavement guide: caring for the body (No date shown; read 28 September 2026)
- End of Life Doula UK: End of life doulas (No date shown; read 28 September 2026)