Recognising the Final Days: Signals of Approaching Death

We face the same end, yet few are prepared for it. But how can you tell when the time to say goodbye to a loved one is inevitably approaching? A specialist in this field emphasizes that our bodies emit clear signals indicating imminent death. It's important to pay attention to a certain crucial aspect.

Preparing to say goodbye to someone close is a significant challenge for families. Accepting the fact that someone is leaving can be painful, with emotions often overwhelming attempts to control feelings, resulting in tears and emotions taking precedence.

Many people caring for elderly or sick relatives wonder if it's possible to spot signs of approaching death prematurely.

Finding signals that a person is entering the dying phase is possible. Symptoms indicating the end can appear a few hours, days, or weeks before death.

In an interview on the Unilad website, Dr Carol DerSarkissian mentioned that observing a dying person can help determine whether the dying process has begun. Recognizing these symptoms allows the family to prepare emotionally for the upcoming events while also providing the dying person with a sense of closeness and the best possible care.

In the last few weeks before death, the sick may show apathy, lack of response, and loss of interest in the world. This signal is easy to overlook, especially in older people.

One of the visible signs of approaching death is changes in skin appearance. Hours or days before death, the body sends out final signals. A change indicating deteriorating heart function is bluing of the skin on the hands or feet and a marked sharpening of facial features.

A person nearing the end of life may experience continuous fatigue, drowsiness, and exhaustion so intense that it's difficult for them to get out of bed. They may also have a breathing disorder, which manifests as shallow breathing or shortness of breath and sometimes even pauses in breathing.

Specialists in palliative care emphasize that the presence and support of the family are most important to the dying person.