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- During 1 to 3 months before death, your loved one is likely to: Sleep or doze more Eat and drink less Withdraw from people and stop doing things they used to enjoy Talk less (but if they're a child, more) If you haven't done so already, this is the time to make sure your loved one has made the end-of-life arrangements they'll need.
www.webmd.com/palliative-care/journeys-end-active-dying
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Oct 8, 2024 · Signs of the dying process can emerge up to 90 days before someone's death. Knowing these signs may help you prepare for the end of a loved one's life and bring you comfort as you face the physical and mental changes that happen along the end-of-life timeline.
- Angela Morrow, RN
End of life stages timeline. Dying is a normal process, and there are certain signs that help us understand what stage someone has reached in the dying process. This page explains what stages people might go through in the weeks, days and hours before dying.
Find more information about the last hours and days of life, including advice for carers and relatives. Find out about: Page last reviewed: 26 October 2023. Next review due: 26 October 2026. Find out about physical changes that can happen when you're dying, including changes to appetite and breathing.
- 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.
It can be difficult to know exactly when someone is going to die or has died. Here are some of the most common signs in the last moments before death.
Some people have these symptoms for hours, days or even longer before they die. These changes are a normal and natural part of dying. They do not usually cause the person pain or distress. If you think the person is uncomfortable or you're worried, speak to their doctor, nurse or care home staff.
What to expect at the end of life. Marie Curie Nurse Maria describes the common changes that you might notice in someone’s last weeks, days and hours of life. Peter, Shital and Tracey also talk about their personal experiences of looking after their loved ones during this time.
