Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the End Of Life Documents topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
First responders, hospice and a funeral director explain DNR/MOLST rules and what happens after an at‑home death
Summary
At a Simsbury Senior Center forum, police, hospice staff and a local funeral director explained that living wills and power of attorney are not always actionable for first responders, described DNR/MOLST requirements, hospice pronouncements, medical examiner involvement and steps families can take to reduce confusion after a death at home.
Panelists at the Simsbury Senior Center gave attendees step‑by‑step information about end‑of‑life documents and what families should expect if someone dies at home.
Officer Danny Ball told the audience that living wills or power of attorney documents do not automatically prevent first responders from initiating resuscitation once 911 is activated. “We are required under OEMS’s guidance and by law that we have to initiate CPR under those circumstances,” he said, and explained that the department looks for an authorized DNR (the session described the orange bracelet used in Connecticut) or a MOLST form (a green, more detailed medical order for life‑sustaining treatment) if the patient’s wishes are to be followed in the field.
Peggy Coburn, administrator at MLAN’s Homecare and Hospice Agency, advised families enrolled in hospice not to call 911 if their patient dies at home. “If your loved one should die while they're on hospice, you call the agency that is following them,” she said, explaining that hospice nurses can come out, pronounce the death and coordinate with the chosen funeral home — a process that sometimes avoids a larger emergency response.
Funeral director John Carman described the funeral home’s role in transferring a deceased person from a residence and services families can request. He said funeral teams are on call 24/7, try to follow the family’s timing and can perform tasks such as remaking beds, laundering linens, and providing a brief grace note (he described leaving a rose) when the family returns to the home. Carman also warned that legally unclear next‑of‑kin situations (for example, unmarried partners without documentation) can lead the medical examiner’s office to take custody until relationships or rights are resolved.
Panelists emphasized two practical steps: (1) discuss preferences with a physician and complete a signed DNR or MOLST if you want first responders to follow those wishes in the field, and (2) make and share practical pre‑arrangements or documentation (for example, the name of a preferred funeral home and, where relevant, a marriage certificate) so families and responders know who should be contacted.
The session closed with organizers encouraging attendees to use the materials and conversations as prompts to update paperwork and discuss wishes with loved ones and doctors.
