What are the signs of death in a hospice patient

In the last few hours, there may have been noises of chest tightness and throat rattling.There are several ways in which a person's vital signs may change as they approach death.As hard as it is, be patient and understanding that this is part of the natural death and dying process.This normal change is due to the decrease of fluid intake and an inability to cough up normal secretions.This is frequently paired with mottled, discolored skin.

Clinical signs are based upon study in cancer patients but are generalizable to other causes of death (e.g.Skin may become mottled and discolored.That is not usually the case, especially when a person dies while receiving hospice care.They may develop a slight wheezy noise in the back of their throat which may become more pronounced over time.Myoclonus is not painful, but the abrupt onset of these uncontrollable muscle spasms can be distressing.

Mottling and cyanosis of the upper extremities appear to indicate impending death versus such changes in the lower extremities.The patient's nose, ears, hands, arms, feet and legs may feel increasingly cool to the touch.The patient may not be able to tell you if the blanket overheats.Restlessness or agitation which­­­­­­­ may be a result of less oxygen to the brain, metabolic changes or physical pain.This rally doesn't usually last very long, typically just a day or even less.

This is known as the death rattle. listen closely for this as it suggests that the patient has between hours to a single day left to live.Lotion to back and extremities.The death rattle should not bother the patient, as it is just fluid moving over the vocal cords.Hospice signs of imminent death sometimes a patient will rally before death and want to talk.Your loved one may have a fever greater than 100 degrees.

Seeing these changes can be upsetting, but they do not have to upset us if we are prepared.