Closing out and thanking a care team
A practical page for returning supplies, asking final questions, and saying thank you when the care period ends.
Ask what needs to be returned or picked up
NIA notes that if the person was in hospice, a plan for what happens after death will already be in place. That plan often covers practical steps too. Equipment providers may have oxygen equipment, beds, or other items to collect, so it helps to ask who schedules pickup and whether anything should be left as it is until they arrive.
Make a final contact list
Before numbers disappear into old texts, write down who helped and how to reach the organization.
- Hospice or home health main office
- Nurse, aide, social worker, chaplain, or volunteer names
- Equipment provider and pickup contact
- Pharmacy or supply company contact
- Bereavement or grief support contact if offered
Ask any final process questions
It is reasonable to ask what happens with remaining supplies, medication disposal instructions, equipment pickup, bereavement support, and final billing questions. Follow the care team's instructions rather than guessing. For leftover medicines, the FDA's guidance on disposing of unused medicines describes take-back options and is a useful reference alongside what the team tells you.
A thank-you can be simple
A short card, a message to the agency, or naming specific people who helped can be enough. You do not have to write a perfect note while grieving.
Last reviewed October 14, 2026