About this Material
This material is adapted and abbreviated from the "Bodycare at Home" section of our Home Funerals Guide & Resources, which is available for immediate download on a pay-what-you-can basis. Please download the full resource for more detailed information as well additional sections covering infant bodycare, bodycare after physical trauma, and more.
Table of Contents
Location of Bodycare - Moving a Body Safely - Rigor Mortis - Oral Care - Closing the Mouth - Closing the Eyes - Purge
- Body Care Order of Operations - Bathing - Hair Care - Shaving - Moisturizing - Dressing - Cosmetizing
- Hand & Arm Positioning - Cooling & Preservation- Shrouding
Download a print-friendly version of Home Funerals 101 here.
- Body Care Order of Operations - Bathing - Hair Care - Shaving - Moisturizing - Dressing - Cosmetizing
- Hand & Arm Positioning - Cooling & Preservation- Shrouding
Download a print-friendly version of Home Funerals 101 here.
Location of Bodycare
It is important to have a space large enough that the deceased and people caring for their body can fit comfortably and move around to wash, dress, etc. If you are having an open visitation, is there space for people to sit vigil, to spend time with the deceased person, and to spend time with each other?
Moving a Body Safely
Illustration by Day Corso & Sky Gomez
To safely turn a body to bathe, dress, change linens, or shroud:
- To catch any purge or fluids, you can choose to put a towel over the face as a precaution
- Stand on one side of the bed or table and place your feet about hip width apart, bend at the waist while keeping your spine straight, and tighten your abdominal muscles to protect your back
- Move the decedent's opposite arm across their torso towards you, and cross their leg on the same side over the top of the opposite ankle towards you
- Reach across to the slightly raised hip with one hand and to their shoulder with your other hand, and turn them towards you
- You can now have someone wash their backside or help change sheets, place a shroud underneath them, etc. It does help to have at least two people involved, if not more
Illustration by Day Corso & Sky Gomez
To move the body from one place to another:
Transfers are not always smooth, and that is okay. The weight of the person, amount of time since death, injuries to the body, and other factors can affect the transfer process. Using a stretcher can make transfers easier. You may be able to source one from within your community; funeral directors might have one that can be borrowed, and medical supply stores may have one for rent. While using a stretcher or backboard can be helpful, not everyone has access to these items, so here is a trick for using only a bed sheet:
Transfers are not always smooth, and that is okay. The weight of the person, amount of time since death, injuries to the body, and other factors can affect the transfer process. Using a stretcher can make transfers easier. You may be able to source one from within your community; funeral directors might have one that can be borrowed, and medical supply stores may have one for rent. While using a stretcher or backboard can be helpful, not everyone has access to these items, so here is a trick for using only a bed sheet:
- Lay the sheet under the body, ideally with the longer side perpendicular to the body (a bigger bed sheet, like a king or queen size, allows for better grip)
- Roll the sides of the sheet up and in tight to the body
- Ask four to six people to hold the rolled sheet edges, supporting the head with one hand or a pillow
- Slowly lift and carry as a community
- If lowering the body to a low surface (like a casket on the floor) be careful to support your back as you lower by tightening your abdominal muscles
Rigor Mortis
Rigor mortis can affect the mobility of the limbs and the ease of moving the body. It may be easier to bathe and dress the body within the first few hours after death. Sometimes people choose to wait for rigor mortis to pass to begin care, which typically happens after 24 hours, but can vary from 12-48 hours. If it is not possible to wait for rigor to pass, you can still care for the body.
Oral Care
Oral care is an important step for decreasing bacterial growth in the mouth that causes odor similar to morning breath. You can use a wet wipe or washcloth to sweep large particles from the mouth first (be gentle, as oral tissue is fragile). You may choose to floss and brush the teeth with a soft toothbrush, using a very small amount of toothpaste (since the decedent can’t rinse and spit). You can also use a cotton swab dipped in mouthwash, vinegar, or any antiseptic/antibacterial essential oil (e.g. lavender, rosemary, or tea tree) to clean the mouth and tongue. It is helpful to dry the mouth, teeth, and tongue after cleaning them using cotton balls or a cloth. If it is difficult to open the mouth, or oral care would be unpleasant, it is okay to skip this.
Closing the Mouth
If the mouth is open and you wish for it to remain closed, you can try one of the following methods:
Head wrap. Photo Courtesy of Jerrigrace Lyons.
Head Wrap
Use a necktie or long piece of non-slippery material like a scarf or cloth Ace-type bandage tied around the head to hold the jaw shut. Place the middle of the tie under the chin/jaw, then bring the ends to the top of the head and tie a knot. A second person is helpful here to support the jaw to keep the mouth closed while the knot is being tied. Keep the tie in place until the mouth remains closed without it. The time varies on this, though it usually takes 1-2 hours. Note that this method may leave an imprint on the skin and tousle the hair. To reduce skin indentations, smooth the scarf/bandage as much as possible.
Use a necktie or long piece of non-slippery material like a scarf or cloth Ace-type bandage tied around the head to hold the jaw shut. Place the middle of the tie under the chin/jaw, then bring the ends to the top of the head and tie a knot. A second person is helpful here to support the jaw to keep the mouth closed while the knot is being tied. Keep the tie in place until the mouth remains closed without it. The time varies on this, though it usually takes 1-2 hours. Note that this method may leave an imprint on the skin and tousle the hair. To reduce skin indentations, smooth the scarf/bandage as much as possible.
Dani LaVoire in our "Home Funeral Body Care Basics" video.
Towel Roll
A rolled up towel can be placed under the chin until the jaw stays closed without the towel in place. You may also use the towel method with the head wrap method to further support the jaw staying closed. Some people may choose to leave the towel or wrap in place for the duration of the home funeral. This technique can be seen in our "Home Funeral Body Care Basics" video on YouTube.
A rolled up towel can be placed under the chin until the jaw stays closed without the towel in place. You may also use the towel method with the head wrap method to further support the jaw staying closed. Some people may choose to leave the towel or wrap in place for the duration of the home funeral. This technique can be seen in our "Home Funeral Body Care Basics" video on YouTube.
Angela Woolsey demonstrates a dental tie.
Dental Tie
If the person has teeth, you can use a piece of dental floss for a dental tie. Tie the floss around one of the front top teeth, tie another piece around a front bottom tooth, and then tie the two pieces together. This technique can be seen in our "Dental tie mouth closure demonstration" video on YouTube.
If the person has teeth, you can use a piece of dental floss for a dental tie. Tie the floss around one of the front top teeth, tie another piece around a front bottom tooth, and then tie the two pieces together. This technique can be seen in our "Dental tie mouth closure demonstration" video on YouTube.
Packing the mouth with flowers; illustration by Day Corso & Sky Gomez.
Packing with Flowers or Herbs
Usually, as rigor mortis sets in, the mouth will also set in place; however, it may be impossible to completely close the mouth or the mouth may slowly reopen as time passes. If the mouth remains open, you can try packing it with flowers or herbs, if desired.
Usually, as rigor mortis sets in, the mouth will also set in place; however, it may be impossible to completely close the mouth or the mouth may slowly reopen as time passes. If the mouth remains open, you can try packing it with flowers or herbs, if desired.
Closing the Eyes
If the eyes remain open after death and you want them closed, ensure they are clean and dry, then try one of the following methods for closing. Moisturizing the eyelids prior to closing them can help make them more pliable if the person was or is becoming dehydrated.
Using Weights
Gently bring the eyelids down over the eyes and place a small bag, weighted eye pillow, or bags filled with something like rice or sand over the eyes. Keep them in place until the lids remain closed, usually for a couple of hours. If the eyes don’t stay closed and you prefer not to have them open, you can leave the weights in place or drape a scarf across them.
Using Weights
Gently bring the eyelids down over the eyes and place a small bag, weighted eye pillow, or bags filled with something like rice or sand over the eyes. Keep them in place until the lids remain closed, usually for a couple of hours. If the eyes don’t stay closed and you prefer not to have them open, you can leave the weights in place or drape a scarf across them.
Illustration by Day Corso & Sky Gomez.
Using Cotton
Pull some small pieces off the head of a Q-tip or a cotton ball, elongate the cotton, and place it directly on the eyeball to catch the lids and keep them shut. Lower the eyelid two-thirds of the way down, then bring up the lower lid to meet the upper lid. If the eyes don’t stay closed with the cotton alone, add vaseline to the cotton to help the eyelid grip onto the cotton.
Using Superglue
Funeral directors sometimes use superglue, so you can also try this if you are comfortable and having the eyelids remain closed is important to you. Apply a small amount of superglue to a toothpick, cosmetic brush, or the stem of a Q-tip with the cotton pulled off. Apply a thin layer of glue to the lower lid, then gently slide the top lid down the eye until the eyelids touch. Press the lids together with a small tool until they stick. Do not use your fingers.
Pull some small pieces off the head of a Q-tip or a cotton ball, elongate the cotton, and place it directly on the eyeball to catch the lids and keep them shut. Lower the eyelid two-thirds of the way down, then bring up the lower lid to meet the upper lid. If the eyes don’t stay closed with the cotton alone, add vaseline to the cotton to help the eyelid grip onto the cotton.
Using Superglue
Funeral directors sometimes use superglue, so you can also try this if you are comfortable and having the eyelids remain closed is important to you. Apply a small amount of superglue to a toothpick, cosmetic brush, or the stem of a Q-tip with the cotton pulled off. Apply a thin layer of glue to the lower lid, then gently slide the top lid down the eye until the eyelids touch. Press the lids together with a small tool until they stick. Do not use your fingers.
Purge
After death, changes in the composition of the body and internal pressure can cause fluid to leave the body. There are many types of fluid in the body, and sometimes preparing the body involves all of them. Depending on age, cause of death, body type, and other factors, fluid can leak from the lungs, brain, eyes, nose, mouth, skin, anus, and urethra. It can be pink, clear, red, brown, and may even be frothy or look like coffee grounds. Commonly called purge, this is a normal, though infrequent, part of the after death experience. While it isn’t dangerous, it is helpful to address. Clean up purge, using the same standard precautions you will use to perform bodycare. You can use cotton balls or tampons as plugs for vaginal or rectal purge. Placing ice on the sides of the throat can help limit purge coming from the mouth, nose, or ears.
Body Care Order of Operations
Do the wet stuff, then the dry stuff, then arrange the body.
Bathing Steps
- Gather your supplies (see our Home Funerals Guide for a suggested list).
- Consider where your water source is in relationship to the room the body will be bathed in.
- If bathing occurs on a bed or table, cover the area with protective materials (e.g. a plastic sheet, tarp, shower curtain, or incontinence pads).
- Set up a work surface draped with a cloth to place your supplies.
- Fill a basin with warm water and a small amount of soap (use a soap bar if that’s what you have on hand).
- Drape a towel or sheet across the torso of the person, covering their chest and genitals to preserve modesty. Uncover the person in sections as you go, and treat them with the same respect you would if they were alive, honoring the person’s own relationship with their body
- Caring for the body after death is an intimate experience. There may be spiritual, cultural, or ethical concerns when touching different parts of the body like the head, the feet, or the genitals. Use these considerations to guide you in bodycare and in placement of ice
- Use a washcloth dipped in the warm water to gently wash the person from head to toe, paying special attention to skin folds and creases where skin is touching skin
- If skin is very fragile, it may be best to use your hands to pour water over the body instead of rubbing with a towel
- If there are suds or soap residue left behind, you may need to make a second pass with fresh water
- Once bathing is complete, clear the area of wet items and replace with clean, dry sheets. Dry the body as well as you can, as damp or clammy skin is a vector for bacteria. Take your time and use dry towels to gently blot up any excess oil and liquid
Hair Care
If desired, shampoo and dry the hair. The hair may not need to be washed, but you may want to give it that extra care. There are hair care options available that don’t require using water to wash the hair. These options, which are meant to mask, dissolve, or absorb oil include products like blotters, rinseless foams, no-rinse liquids, and dry shampoo. Different types of hair need different types of care. Someone who specifically knows how to take care of the type of hair that the deceased has should be the person to do it. One easy method to shampoo hair is to use a garbage bag.
Shaving
For waxing or shaving bald heads or a person’s face, the skin is not going to move or manipulate the same as when the person was alive, and it will not heal once cut. Shaving a surface that has usually been shaved is mostly okay. It is best to shave sooner rather than later, if possible. Skin is decently resilient if the body has been kept cool. It is helpful to moisturize the skin well before shaving, and using an electric razor can be helpful, as well.
Moisturizing
A combination of keeping the body moisturized and cooled can help limit changes in skin color and texture due to dehydration. Effective moisturizers are fat-based and highly emollient, such as lanolin, shea butter, or even petroleum jelly. Discoloration from dehydration happens more quickly in children and people with body types that don’t have a lot of fat or muscle, so moisturizing promptly is important for their bodies.
Dressing
Illustration by Day Corso & Sky Gomez.
Dress the body in the chosen clothing, and if desired, drape with a treasured blanket, sheet, or other materials (more on shrouding later). Bodies can be difficult to dress, especially if only one person is doing so. Be sure to go slow and tug gently. It is often easiest to simply cut garments at the back and drape them over the body rather than trying to get limbs in them. In this case, simply tuck the clothes under the sides of the body to give the appearance of being fully dressed. Remember that the final position of the body and the lighting can change the way the person looks.
Cosmetizing
If desired, style the hair, provide nail care, and/or apply makeup. Hair can be styled using everyday products. Use favorite combs and brushes, hairspray, gels, barrettes, bobby pins, etc. You can use the person's favorite makeup colors, but they may not look exactly the same on their skin after death. Use caution to not get cosmetics on a person’s clothes if applying after they are dressed. Accepting that they will not look the same as when they were alive can help when viewing a body and its changes.
Hand & Arm Positioning
Photo Courtesy of Lashanna Williams.
It is easiest to position arms and hands after bathing and either before rigor mortis sets in or after it has passed. If rigor mortis is present at the time of positioning (after bathing/dressing), it may be hard to keep the person's arms close to their sides or to rest their hands on their torso/chest (if that is a desired position). A few tricks to secure hands or arms closer to the body, as desired, include things like:
- tucking fingers/hands into pants pockets or hooking thumbs into belt loops
- tying something around the arms and torso to hold them in place
- tying their hands together over the torso/chest. Be cautious about possible damage to the skin if using ties. Their skin may be fragile and tying something too tightly may result in skin slip, which is where the top layer of skin slips away from the body. This is more likely if the person had fragile skin before death, or the decomposition process has begun
Cooling & Preservation
Diagram of ice placement on back and front of body.
It is helpful to use cooling methods for body preservation during a home funeral as cooling naturally helps slow the decomposition process. Cooling can dry out the skin, so it may be helpful to cover the body in a fat-based moisturizer like lanolin, shea butter, or petroleum jelly before cooling.
Keeping the room cool (below 65° F / 18° C) helps keep the body cool. Ice packs placed on/around the body are helpful to further cool and preserve. You can use Techni Ice, dry ice, any kind of commercial ice packs (like the kind bought at a store), or you can make your own ice by freezing bottles of water. If transporting the body, be sure to secure the cooling methods so that they do not shift during travel. Wrap the cooling method to prevent moisture that can damage the body.
Keeping the room cool (below 65° F / 18° C) helps keep the body cool. Ice packs placed on/around the body are helpful to further cool and preserve. You can use Techni Ice, dry ice, any kind of commercial ice packs (like the kind bought at a store), or you can make your own ice by freezing bottles of water. If transporting the body, be sure to secure the cooling methods so that they do not shift during travel. Wrap the cooling method to prevent moisture that can damage the body.
Shrouding
Shrouding. Photo Courtesy of Lashanna Williams.
The shrouding process can be elaborate or quite simple. The most basic way to shroud the body is to:
- Use at least a queen-size sheet turned to lie like a diamond
- Arrange the body on the sheet so that the head points to the top tip of the diamond, the feet point to the bottom tip, and the side points are at about the waist
- Wrap the body like a burrito/swaddling a baby
- Fold the bottom corner up, the top corner down, tuck one side in close to the body, and wrap the remaining side tight to close
- Covering the face can be an emotional moment and many people prefer to leave the face uncovered for the vigil
- Shrouds can be tied closed with additional fabric, scarves, ribbons, or rope
- Place one tie around the ankles or lower legs, one around the thighs or hips, one around the arms, and one around the neck (if comfortable doing so)
|
NHFA |
Resources |
© COPYRIGHT 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.