Where our work and yours meet
Your staff and the medical examiner's investigators handle the person who died. Our work begins after that removal and after authorities have released the property. Handling of the person who died is never part of our role.
Families in this situation are often overwhelmed. When they ask what happens next with the home, apartment or vehicle, it helps to have a calm, plain-spoken service to suggest. We talk with families directly about what cleanup involves, what it may cost and how insurance may or may not apply, so your staff do not have to field those questions.
Services funeral homes ask about
- Residence and care-facility cleanup after an unattended or delayed-discovery death
- Decomposition odor removal in homes, apartments and vehicles
- Removal vehicle interior cleaning and disinfection, including the garage or bay where vehicles are kept
- Stretcher and transfer equipment cleaning, following manufacturer guidance
- Incidents in non-clinical facility areas, such as fluid spills or sewage backups
- Setting aside belongings with personal value during a residence cleanup
Helping families after a death at home
When a death goes undiscovered for some time, fluids can affect flooring, subfloor and furnishings. We explain to families what needs to be removed and why, and we look for photos, documents and keepsakes that can be saved. We never pressure anyone to decide quickly.
Some families want to be present; others prefer not to see the space until the work is done. Either is fine. For the full process, see unattended death cleanup.
How a referral usually works
You can give a family our number, 615-513-5112, which is answered 24/7, or call us yourself with the family's permission. We ask a few questions about the property, whether it has been released by authorities, and who has the right to authorize work, which is often the next of kin, an executor or a landlord.
We then explain the scope directly to whoever is making decisions. If the home is a rental, we can coordinate with the property manager as well. You are welcome to stay involved as much or as little as the family wants.
Vehicle and equipment decontamination
- Inspect We look at the vehicle interior, stretcher and any transfer boards or covers involved.
- Remove Visible fluids are taken up, and disposable or saturated materials are bagged.
- Clean Hard surfaces, tracks, rails and floor coverings are cleaned to remove residue.
- Disinfect We apply EPA-registered products labeled for the surfaces, following equipment manufacturer guidance and label contact time.
- Return to service We walk you through what was done and note anything that should be repaired or replaced.
Safety and boundaries
Body fluids are handled as potentially infectious material. WHO notes that people who handle bodies can be exposed to bloodborne viruses and other infections, which is why we use protective equipment and follow OSHA bloodborne pathogens practices during our work. Your own staff's protections remain under your exposure control plan.
Preparation room waste and embalming fluids are part of your regulated operations and your medical waste vendor's service, not ours. Plumbing, HVAC and building repairs go to the appropriate trades.
Odor after a removal
Families often notice odor first. We address it by removing the source material, then sealing and deodorizing where needed. EPA notes that ozone may mask odors without removing them, so we use it only in unoccupied spaces and only after cleanup. See decomposition odor removal. We serve funeral homes and families in all 41 counties of Middle Tennessee.