How to Recognize a Dying Patient? | Signs of Approaching Death

As a physician myself, I find your explanation of the end of life spot on. Great job!

My dad lived with us for his last 6 years. He died at 88 in our home. He was in hospice care. He knew and accepted it. He said things like, "I'm going away". As his son, I did not know how to handle his comments. All I could say was, "we're all going away...eventually". On one of his better days, he also said, "It's been a great ride". Just like in this video, he died very peacefully in his sleep. No drama. He just didn't take his next breath. A few days before he died, his personality changed. He wanted me to stay next to his bed and hold his hand. I was more than happy to do that. In my entire life, we never even hugged. I was shocked. One day, for no obvious reason, he started crying. I had never seen him cry in my whole life. The whole process was an emotional roller coaster but something I am glad I could be there.

My dad died peacefully at the age of 95 as I held his hand sing and prayed him through the valley of the shadow of death. Thanks for explaining the process, it was exactly as you stated and the attending nurse told me what was happening. I stayed with my dad until he took his last breath. Rest In Peace Dad.

I looked after my husband throughout his illness -oesophagus cancer - and this video shows exactly what happened to him in the last week of his life. He died on 12 February 2023. However, about two hours before he died the district nurse had been using the sponge sticks we had bought to clean the brown fluid from his mouth which was open and he was unconscious. She had to leave our bedroom so I took over and told him what I was doing. When I tried to take the sponge out of his mouth he clamped his mouth shut and I couldn’t get the stick out. I gently told him that he must let the sponge stick go and he did. This happened four times before the district nurse came back in. It didn’t happen when she continued to do it. She said it was his way of communicating with me which was a blessing to me. I was able to give him the death he wanted - at home in his own bed. I miss him so much though as we had been together 60yrs since we were 13yrs old and married at 20yrs.

I was present when my mum died at age 90 years. It was very peaceful. One moment she was looking at me, and the next she closed her eyes and died. This was 23 years ago and it seems like yesterday. Miss her as we all do our parents.

I went through this with my mom two years ago. I played her favorite gospel music (Mahalia Jackson), prayed, and cried. She went away in such a peaceful state. Mom just drifted away.

My grandmother passed away a couple of days ago. She was showing all of the first 3 signs, exactly the way you described. Thank you for letting us all know that these people likely didn't feel any pain. Very soothing, thank you!

When we gathered at my Dad's bedside, it was because a thoughtful, professional nurse knew the end was very near. It was very difficult, but I would rather have been there than not be there. Thank you to all the health professionals who help us handle this exact situation.

My husband experienced most of the signs before he died. It's comforting to know that it was not painful for him during those times that he experienced it. I love my husband very much and I'll never forget him.

I saw most of this things with my grandmother a year ago when they gave her days to live..but we refused accept that and put our trust in God. Thanks to God she is alive now better

Saw my uncle dying,same symptoms,stage 3 liver cancer 56 years old yesterday.A great man left us,my heart is aching seeing him go.

Thanks. When my wife was passing she became hot and flushed rather then cold. She had MS for 26 years. The signs that helped me were eating less, sleeping more, talking less. Her breathing near the end was distressing for us but not for her. I found understanding these signs a real help. But both my adult children did not want to know about them. Everyone is different and our grieving is often different.

This video is very accurate how my dad was slowing dying from cancer stage 4 leukemia. He just passed away a month ago and was 72 years old. :(

My Dad is not in hospice care, but he is in a nursing home. He is going to be 90 soon. I have noticed that his breathing is audible, has no appetite (he is now 108 lbs), and his 'business' in order for awhile now. While this is normal in later years, lately he has been making sure we are prepared for when he is no longer here. I'm tears as I type this, but I am reading other posts of parents and loved ones who have passed, and I want to say God bless you. ❤

Thank you so much. This was very helpful. Mom died last month and much of these signs were there. As an RD, it was helpful when you stated, “remember they are not dying because they’re not eating. They’re not eating because they are dying.”

My daughter,Jazana"e had all of these signs ,other than agitation,,fly high Angel 🦋 🕊...

My mom passed away from end stage Parkinson's, dementia, and a stroke that paralyzed the left side of her body. She had all the signs you described in this video just days before she passed. I was right by her side when she took her last breath. It was the most difficult thing I had to overcome in my entire life.

It was the agitation that really upset me at my fathers demise. I still go over it now on waking after 18 months. The sense of utter helplessness and despair and not being able to do a thing. I had no idea this was a well documented part of the process. I hope your video might bring me and others a little comfort over the devastation of losing a loved one. Thank you.

Have to say that my 91 year old grandad was ill with pneumonia in hospital over the past 2 weeks, he wasn't able to eat, drink for days, he was cold and could not keep his eyes open. Honestly even after the doctors had said that the infection had improved but that his kidneys we're struggling and they thought he had a kidney infection now he still wasn't eating and very tired. The doctors weren't worried about the eating too much and honestly I thought he was days from dying because I knew these EOL signs but in the last 3 days he's much brighter, eating much much more, drinking more so hopefully things are going well

Hospice nurse here. I really appreciate your simplified explanations as it helps to relay this information to our patient's families in a way they can understand. Thank you!!