What are the last days before death like? | Signs of approaching death

In this easy-to-understand video, I tell you what to expect when your loved one (with dementia) is dying. Caring for a loved one through the final stage of life is never easy. Whether you carry all the responsibility or just want to be there for them, you probably wonder what to expect and how the last days before death are like. Getting familiar with end-of-life symptoms in older adults can help you understand what your loved one may be experiencing, and promote a smooth transition for everyone.

The video describes the following signs you may observe when death is near:
- Delirium
- Window of wakefulness
- The loss of appetite and thirst (Role of nutrition at the end of life?)
- Death rattle
- Mottling of skin

| What to expect when your loved one is dying? | Signs of death | End of life signs | Signs of approaching death | What to expect in the last moments before death

Timecodes:
0:00 Introduction
0:39 Delirium - Central Nervous System
1:43 Window of wakefulness - Central Nervous system
2:31 Loss of appetite and thirst - Gastrointestinal system
2:50 Do we need to feed a dying person?
3:12 Why people lose their appetite when dying
4:22 Death rattle - Respiratory system
5:07 Mottled skin - Circulatory system
5:41 Summary
5:58 The end

#EndOfLife #Hospice #Care

[lorenericksen]

Thank you so much for this explanation. For months, I have asked myself why I didn't insist that my dying husband eat, though he kept refusing. I was afraid I let him starve to death. You have lifted the weight of guilt from my shoulders. Bless you.

[Nora]

I am a HH Acute/Hospice nurse. One of the most challenging education pieces in hospice is having the family to accept that their love one is fine not eating, and that force feeding may actually cause too much distress and interfere with a peaceful departure. Very well explained!

[forallseasonsdaily]

My grandma is actually 98 and experiencing these symptoms. It is very helpful to understand what is happening

[efandmk]

Having worked in nursing homes and with terminal patients, this list is accurate. But the thing is, that it always feels like at some point, people know when it's time to "let go", and they make a decision to do that. Only rarely is it a surprise when someone passes. That's even creepier. I was having a conversation once with a man while I was putting supplies in his room. Suddenly he stopped talking in the middle of a sentence. I turned to look at him and he was gone. That one kind of haunted me.

[qd]

Thankfully my dad passed quietly and peacefully, there was none of the signs you mentioned. I had the chance to stay with him in the last hours of his life in hospital, talking to him about all the great things he did in his life, he gradually left.

[blossomsfan]

My dear Grandad sadly passed away last night. I saw him yesterday afternoon and told him I loved him. He had the 'death rattle' and this video has given me some understanding of his final moments. Thank you ❤️

[johnschnellbach]

We call that short time of clarity "the last hurrah". My dad had that. He was sleeping for days. Then all of a sudden, he was wide awake. We ate together, we drank beer together, we played cards, we reminisced. Then he was gone the next day.

[Deej]

My husband is in his 2nd yr. of untreated, stage 4b prostrate cancer. He is still active and still has an appetite but is showing signs of back and pelvic pain and lack of energy. I know his time is coming. Thank you for this thoughtful and thought provoking video. It will certainly be helpful to me in the coming months ahead.

[murraymclean]

My wife died 14 years ago the last thing she said to me was she was so scared..it was cancer..six years later my daughter died from the same cancer..i miss them both terribly.

[celiacbabe]

20 years my mom was in hospital with an internal chest absces& infection. After her surgery, I'd visit with her, & she was delerious and praying. Saying “Lords prayer over and over... Another day she was yelling at me loudly and saying I didn't give a darn aout her. Made me cry and I left....
Shortly after she was moved to convalese, the next day she died.... Sigh. You explanation makes SENSE to me now... Thank you

[dr.paulinemoyaert]

Thank you for watching my video. If you liked it, please consider giving it a thumbs up 👍. Feel free to let me know if you have any questions, I'd be happy to help you ☺.

[karenimran]

My mum was admitted to hospital in October 2022 with pneumonia, they cured the Pneumonia but then her kidneys started to fail. She lived for 6 weeks after being admitted to hosp. She didn’t want to eat, just wanted cold drink like lemonade and iced lollies. At the end she slept a lot, and was talking to her deceased brother and sister. Three days before she died.

[helenawagensand]

An excellent presentation. My father is very ill and your presentation helped me understand what what death can be like for a very old man.

[christinesmith]

My mother died Monday and I wish that I had known these symptoms before. I saw all the signs and she did pass the evening that the death rattle started. I was worried about her not eating but I am at peace now. Thank you.

[epsilona]

This video was great, thank you so much, my 95 year old grandmother is in hospital, so it’s comforting knowing what signs to look for and to emotionally prepare.

[slamer]

my mother died 2 weeks ago within 2 weeks of lung cancer. the delirium was so hard, what you didnt mention. people try to get rid off their clothes, my grandmother did this also. they try something to hold, touch above them. they try to fetch something. these where the saddest and hardest days of my life. i hold her hand till the end. rest in peace and freedom without any fear and pain now

[tigalbaby]

Dr . You have made the difficult subject of dying easier to understand and accept. Both my parents died peacefully in their sleep ( aged 88 and 95 so grateful to have had them for so long ) and your explanation of the signs are so accurate . I understand the loss of appetite, but should liquids be avoided as well ?

[le_th_]

You did a great job of covering what is, for many, a very uncomfortable subject.

[leonb]

Hospice care can be critical to understand the process of dying for their surrounding survivors and caregivers as well as make them comfortable as possible. WIth both my parents, less than 2 months before their deaths, they each had a fall and collapsed at home, unable to get up with assistance so end up in a hospital or nursing home where eventually die. In the last days, communication ceases, breathing become shallower and more labored then eventually stops.
I don't look at death as something sad with my elderly parents (dad was 80, mom 92 at death), their physical and mental health had worsened to the point of a poor quality of life, it is a blessing to all.

[ellad]

My dad sadly passed away last Thursday. I was with him when he passed. I was with him continuously for 5 days before he passed also. I was unaware what was taking place. No preparation was given, even the disease which eventually took his life was not diagnosed. I have never seen the death process before and due to not knowing it was happening, I am left traumatised! It is not an experience I would like to have again. If I was prepared, it may have a lot different.