Bio-One of Havre de Grace has been proudly serving our beautiful community for years. We understand the emotional toll that accompanies the loss of a loved one and the potential to feel overwhelmed. It can be challenging to understand how to take the next necessary steps. We are here to help.
Understanding Unattended Deaths
An unattended death is an incredibly sensitive and challenging subject, which means it is not a subject that is often talked about or understood. However, we believe it is crucial to bring the term to light.
An unattended death occurs in cases where an individual passes away without being in the company of others. Because of this, immediate medical attention is not available, and the body may be left undiscovered for some time. An unattended death can often happen at home, in a personal vehicle, or even outside.
Common Causes of Unattended Deaths
An unattended death most commonly occurs in elderly individuals, particularly those who live alone. This is due to not necessarily having someone who is able to check in on them frequently.
Death can unfortunately occur very suddenly, particularly when someone reaches old age, and the reality is that it may take time for the body to be discovered. Another complex topic to discuss is that unattended deaths can be a result of suicide or homicide. When death occurs, changes in the body happen rapidly, making a rapid response necessary.
Impact on Families and Communities
The emotional impact of an unattended death in families and communities is understandably formidable.
The death of a loved one is always a huge loss that creates an emotional response that may include guilt, numbness, confusion, and fear. These emotions are more complicated if time has passed before the body was discovered. With these complicated emotions, practical challenges and safety hazards also transpire.
Decomposition happens rapidly, releasing bacteria that can affect the health and safety of those near where the death occurred. Because of this, it can be incredibly difficult to know how to act and what steps you need to take. It can feel impossible to even know who to call and what to do, which is why Bio-One of Havre de Grace is honored to be able to help.
Legal Considerations
Something that often isn't considered but that should be mentioned is the legal implications of an unattended death. When an individual passes away, their loved ones are left with legal responsibilities that can't be ignored.
For instance, authorities must be notified to determine the cause of death. Then, a death certificate needs to be issued, and the death needs to be legally verified. This all must be done before burial or cremation plans are arranged.
If the individual rented, landlords must be notified and the property secured. Estates may also need to be addressed. All of this is, of course, difficult on loved ones. The practical implications of the safety hazards can also become legal considerations, as many states require a professional biohazard team to handle the aftercare. This is all to ensure the health of all those around where the unattended death occurred.
Let Us Help
We would be honored to assist in these emotional and stressful times. Our process is discreet and thorough, with the utmost respect and compassion at every step. After we are contacted, our professionals will sanitize and deodorize the area, clean up and dispose of any biohazardous waste, and ultimately restore the site to its previous condition. All of this is done while following all federal guidelines to give the family one less burden to worry over.
