Realizing the End of Life is Near
People often wonder if there are obvious signs that death is drawing near for someone they love. In fact, there are signs, even before the final days, that the dying process has begun.
Before deaths and funerals at funeral homes in Wirtz, VA, there will be signs to look for to know that death is close for a loved one. We don’t always know what to expect when people die because we’re so unfamiliar with the process of death, but there are some very obvious indications when death is near.
These changes may cause stress for family members, but they are seldom uncomfortable for the loved one who is dying. They are a natural part of the body shutting down as a life comes to an end.
Most of these signs begin weeks before the loved one actually dies. However, death gets closer, they become much more obvious and new signs also appear. Active dying, which lasts only a few days, has a completely different set of symptoms than the ones seen when the body is preparing for death.
One of the indications that death is near is loss of appetite. You’ll notice that the dying person doesn’t want, or won’t take, much food or liquid. This is normal, but dehydration, in particular, can be very uncomfortable, so you can help alleviate some of this discomfort by giving your loved one popsicles, if they’ll eat them, by swabbing the inside of their mouths and their lips with water, and by applying lip balm to their lips and moisturizing lotion to their arms, legs, hands, and feet.
If your loved one stops eating and drinking completely, it may be because they simply are trying to speed up the dying process, they are not awake often enough to eat or drink, or they have no appetite at all. If people are hungry or thirsty, they will eat or drink. If they’re not hungry or thirsty, then you should not stress about the fact that they are not eating or drinking.
Another indication of impending death is that your loved will be sleeping a lot, perhaps as much as 20-22 hours a day as death gets closer. The reason for this is because their body is very weak and needs a lot of rest. Let them sleep when they feel tired.
When they’re awake and still mobile, then try to encourage them to get up for a little bit and walk a short distance with your assistance. If they are not mobile, then be sure to turn them frequently in bed so that painful bedsores, which can also get infected and cause sepsis, do not develop.
Physical weakness is another sign that your loved one is nearing death. Having the ability to sit up or even walk on their own may be absent. They will need your assistance to help them do these things. As the body weakens further, they may not even have the strength to hold a utensil or to hold a cup or glass, so they will need your help to eat and drink, if they are hungry and thirsty.
When active dying is occurring, you will notice distinct changes in your loved one’s breathing patterns. With comfort care, they will be fine and the sounds may not be as distressing as they can be without comfort care. One of the distinct features of breathing during active dying is rattling. This is because phlegm and fluid collect in the throat (they are in such a deep state of sleep that they are not bothered by this). You will also notice, as death gets very close, long pauses between breaths. And then there will be no more breaths.
For information on the dying process at funeral homes in Wirtz, VA, our compassionate and experienced staff at Conner-Bowman Funeral Home & Crematory is here to help. You can come by our funeral home at 62 Virginia Market Place Dr., Rocky Mount, VA, 24151 or you can contact us today at (540) 334-5151 to learn more about the company and its services.
