Aftercare is a vital component of a hospital’s patient care services but is often overlooked – causing heartache for family members and high financial, legal, and publicity risks for the hospital. Real stories of poor aftercare reveal the consequences of not having a seamless and compliant program in place for deceased patients, however, a recent survey revealed that over half of hospitals found vulnerabilities in their decedent management and tracking processes during the pandemic. Aftercare can no longer be taboo; with the right tools and processes in place, hospitals can avoid potential missteps and ensure dignified and compassionate handling of deceased patients.