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May 2, 2024 · Learn about the end-of-life stages timeline and how to recognize the signs that a loved one is dying.
- Angela Morrow, RN
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Sep 25, 2023 · Dying is a natural process accompanied by decrements in neurocognitive, cardiovascular, respiratory, and muscular function. The dying process is highly variable and can last up to several weeks in some instances.
May 22, 2024 · Learn what happens to a body in the months, weeks, and hours before death, and what you can do for someone who is dying.
Feb 16, 2024 · They Know They're Dying. Dying is a natural process that the body has to work at. Just as a woman in labor knows a baby is coming, a dying person may instinctively know death is near. Even if your loved one doesn't discuss their death, they most likely know it is coming.
- Angela Morrow, RN
- Angela Morrow, RN
- Pain. Pain is a common symptom experienced near the end of life, although it can vary from person to person. Pain is not only determined by medical conditions that cause pain, like cancer or lung disease, but also by factors like emotional distress, interpersonal conflicts, and the non-acceptance of one’s own death.
- Shortness of Breath. Shortness of breath, also known as dyspnea, is one of the most common end-of-life symptoms. Even if a person doesn't have lung disease, dyspnea can occur because the organ systems of the body are interconnected.
- Anxiety. Anxiety is normal at the end of life as a person contemplates their own death or struggles through the stages of dying. This is commonly expressed as agitation, worrying, sweating, stomach upset, nausea, sleeping problems, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations.
- Decreased Appetite and Thirst. As a body starts to shut down, it no longer needs as many calories and nutrition to function at such lowered levels. Although it is normal for people to refuse food and drink near the end of life—either because they have no desire for it or find the effort of eating or drinking to be too much—it can still be upsetting for families.
Knowing what to expect when your loved one is actively dying, and what you can do, can make a difference in the care you provide and bring you peace of mind. Keep in mind that everyone is different and don’t always exhibit all the signs. Here are some signs that someone is actively dying.
The approach to end-of-life care varies widely throughout the world and is influenced by medical, cultural, social, and legal considerations. Talking about the likely outcomes of illness, including death and dying, is an important part of health care.
