Vital signs of someone who is dying

Another common sign death is near is weakness and tiredness. Your loved one may withdraw and spend much more time sleeping.

Some dying people sleep more during the day and are more awake at night. Plan to spend time with your loved one during those periods when he seems most alert or awake. At the end of life, dying people often loose interest in their surroundings and what is taking place. Be prepared for the fact that your loved one may refuse to answer your questions, or answer them slowly.

Your love one may also appear disorientated, which is another common sign death is near. He may seem confused about what is going on and who is speaking to him. This kind of confusion is normal and is not a sign that he feels differently about you. If your loved one is no longer able to speak, he most likely is still able to hear you, so you should continue talking to him and leave nothing unsaid.

It is also important for both you and your loved one to hug and touch him , even if he does not respond. Since your loved one may now be spending all of his time in bed, you should discuss with the palliative care team how to keep him clean and comfortable.

They may suggest lying your loved one on his side. Use pillows to support his body and change his position at regular intervals. If your loved one has lost control of his bladder and bowel, palliative care staff may suggest using a urine catheter , a tube placed into the bladder , or protective undergarments in order to keep his bed clean.

Speak with the palliative care team about the most effective strategy for dealing with any pain your loved one may be experiencing. Making sure that your loved one is not in pain is an important part of managing her end-of-life care. If your loved one is no longer able to speak, you can look for body language associated with discomfort , such as frowning, moaning, moving around, or pulling away when touched.

You should report your observations to the palliative care team right away as the dose, or the way the pain medications are given, may need to be adjusted. For example, when your loved one can no longer swallow, pain medications can be provided in patch form, through an IV, or through an injection. Your loved one may be in pain because of swollen legs and arms from extra fluid. You can help the swelling by keeping her legs and arms raised.

This communicates love to your loved one, even when she is not conscious, and also helps alleviates her pain. At the end of life, a dying person can become very restless or agitated. Your loved one might make restless or repetitive motions, such as pulling the sheets or clothing. Delirium is due to internal body changes that are taking place.

Sometimes it is due to medication. Do not restrain your loved one. Instead, try to figure out what helps keep him calm. What works for one person will not work for another. Often when a person is agitated, he will need some type of medication—usually a mild sedative—to help control this sign of death. Her breathing may speed up, sound shallow, or become irregular.

There may even be short periods of time when your loved one stops breathing for a few moments. As death approaches, the time between breaths may get longer. Towards the very end of life, your loved one will be extremely drowsy and perhaps become unresponsive.

You may start to hear gurgling or snoring sounds with each breathe. It may sound like your loved one is choking. These noises occur because your loved one is swallowing less, resulting in a build-up of saliva in the throat.

These sounds could also happen when the muscles in the tongue and jaw begin to relax. The noises made by your loved one as she approaches death can make you worried or upset.

Be reassured that gurgling and moaning noises are not because of pain , but because her throat muscles are relaxed. Be also reassured that your loved one is not in any danger of dying from suffocation. Please note that deep suctioning is discouraged as it can distress your loved one. Your loved one—and you—will feel different emotions as he is approaches death. Typical emotions include: anxiety, fear, anger, sadness, guilt, loss, and wanting to be alone. Remember that it is normal to feel one or even all of these emotions.

Just as each person has a unique genetic makeup and personal history, each person has a unique dying experience. What emotions a person feels will depend a lot on what type of person he is, how much support he has, the experiences he had in life, his religious and spiritual beliefs, and his age. For example, someone who is dying at a young age is likely to feel very different to someone who has enjoyed a long life.

As another example, someone who is leaving behind young children will have different worries than someone whose children are fully-grown and able to take care of themselves.

There are things that you can do to help your loved one—and you—deal with difficult emotions. Let your loved one know if you have any regrets or things that you are sorry for. Your loved one will also want to hear that he is forgiven for mistakes he has made.

You can also let your loved one know that he has your support if he wants to let go, and that you will be all right. You should also tell your loved one the ways his life made a difference, and reassure him that he will always be remembered. You and your loved one may find comfort in knowing that you can never be truly separated by death because our love lives on.

If your loved one is in hospice care, you could bring familiar things from home for comfort. For example: blankets, photos, and music. If your loved one has a pet, you should speak to the palliative care team about bringing the vet in for a visit. If your loved one is religious or spiritual, he may find a visit from a spiritual care provider comforting. This breathing is often distressing to caregivers but it does not indicate pain or suffering. The secretion that causes this sound can often be dried up with the use of certain medicines, such as atropine or scopolamine.

Sometimes a vaporizer can ease breathing. You may also want to try repositioning your loved one to his or her side, which can help diminish the sound of noisy breathing. Changes in Consciousness: decrease in consciousness, unresponsive periods; patients may experience hallucinations, illusions and delusions.

Sensory Changes It is not unusual for dying persons to experience sensory changes, which are misperceptions that can be categorized as illusions, hallucinations, or delusions: Illusions - They may misperceive a sound or get confused about some physical object in the room. They might hear the wind blow but think someone is crying, or they may see the lamp in the corner and think someone is standing there. Illusions are misunderstandings about something that is actually in their surroundings.

Hallucinations - Dying persons may hear voices that you cannot hear, see things that you cannot see, or feel things that you are unable to touch or feel. Delusions of persecution and delusions of grandeur - Some dying persons confuse reality and might think that others are trying to hurt them or cause them harm.

Or, they can come to believe that they are much more powerful than they really are and think that they can accomplish things that are not possible. Click here for Survival Tips for Grief. Click here for helpful articles about caregiving and grief. Learn more about hospice: What is hospice? As the oxygen supply to the brain decreases, they may experience severe agitation or hallucinations that are inconsistent with their normal manner or personality, such as pulling on bed linens or clothing.

You can talk to them in a calm voice and reassure your loved one that you are there. You can play calm music or give them a back rub.

Your loved one may pass less fluids. As bodily functions slowly decline and the intake of food and drink decrease, the output of fluids will also decrease. This is natural.

Two-Three Days Before Death Your loved one may experience a bluish discoloration of their extremities. The skin of their legs and arms may feel cold to the touch. As the end draws near, the body loses the ability to control its temperature. Do not try to force them to eat, as it will only bring discomfort to them. Your loved one may enjoy ice during this time, since it will keep them cool while also hydrating them. Unfortunately, your loved one may become withdrawn, less active and less communicative.

They may spend more time alone introspecting and may turn down company. Some also appear to become comatose and unresponsive, but this is a symptom of withdrawal. Your loved one can still hear you, so speak in a calm, reassuring voice while holding their hand. Children may become more talkative, even if they withdraw from other activities.

Your loved one may also start to use metaphorical language, which could be a way of coping with death. It may also be used to allude to a task they feel they need to accomplish, such as seeking forgiveness. In the days before death, a series of physiological changes will occur.

They may also begin to cough more frequently, but in general, the congestion itself is painless. It is important to maintain a close eye on your loved one if they begin exhibiting these symptoms.