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What Are the Symptoms of the End of Life?

C. Webb
C. Webb

Symptoms of the end of life include physical and mental changes that signal the body is shutting down. As organ systems prepare to stop, circulation, blood pressure and body temperature fluctuations cause changes in the dying person's appearance. A withdrawal from previously enjoyed activities is common. It is usually during this withdrawal period that a person mentally prepares for death.

Adopting a quiet, reflective attitude is common during the final months or weeks of life. In some cases, the dying person may become depressed. Signs of the end of life may also include the desire to contact lost friends or loved ones to mend previously injured relationships.

A quiet, reflective attitude is common during the final moments of life.
A quiet, reflective attitude is common during the final moments of life.

Appetite loss is also among the symptoms of the end of life. As the body prepares for death, it stops processing nutrients properly, and eating may cause discomfort. Ice chips and light liquids can be offered during this time, but the decision whether to eat and drink should be left up to the dying person. Shortly before death, some terminally ill people get a burst of hunger and may request favorite foods that they previously lost interest in eating.

An individual nearing the end of life may feel a need to mend broken relationships.
An individual nearing the end of life may feel a need to mend broken relationships.

From a couple of weeks to a few days before death, the dying person may sleep much more than he or she previously slept. The body is using what energy is left to allow the person to rest. A burst of energy a few days before death is a common occurrence. During this time, the dying person may become talkative and possess more physical energy than in previous weeks.

Skin-color changes are common at the end of a person's life.
Skin-color changes are common at the end of a person's life.

Symptoms of the end of life typically include a cooling of skin on the dying person's extremities. This is usually noticed by loved ones as they hold the dying person's hand or stroke his or her arm during the final days and hours of life. The cooled skin temperature is caused by reduced blood pressure, which in turn reduces circulation to hands and feet. Slippers can be offered to warm the feet. Hands can be kept under a sheet or blanket.

Hospice facilities may help people and families dealing with end of life care.
Hospice facilities may help people and families dealing with end of life care.

Cheyne-Stokes breathing occurs a few hours before death. This breathing involves short, rapid breaths followed by long intervals of not breathing. As fluids build in the lungs, the terminal patient may cough. This is sometimes called a rattle cough due to its rattling sound. It does not mean the dying person is in any discomfort; however, if it is stressful for loved ones to hear, there are several medications that will reduce its frequency.

Skin color changes are typical symptoms of the end of life. A gray tone takes the place of normal skin tones. In addition, mottled patches may be present on extremities. Such symptoms do not cause discomfort.

Shortly before death, the dying person may experience pleasant hallucinatory sights and sounds. Such hallucinations are common symptoms of the end of life and real to the person having them. In other cases, her or she hallucinates that people are trying to cause harm.

Following death, breathing has ceased and the eyes are partially open. The mouth may be relaxed and open. Skin is cold to the touch.

Discussion Comments

KoiwiGal

There's been a few reports over the years of animals who know when someone is about to pass away and will go to be near the person and comfort them. There's a cat in a rest home that will do that, and it always seems to know before the doctors do when a patient is going to die.

Although it might be because it senses the temperature changes in the person, but since it says in this article that the skin cools down toward death, I'm not sure why that would attract a cat.

bythewell

@MrsPramm - In some ways that would be a blessing, because it would allow someone to say goodbye properly, but it must also be extraordinarily painful for anyone who is still hopeful that the patient is going to survive.

It doesn't always happen though. When my grandfather was dying in a hospice he spent weeks on the cusp of death, barely moving and in a lot of pain. In the end, they decided it was kinder to stop providing him with food and water. I'm still not sure about that decision, but I do know that he was so out of it that he probably didn't have the slightest idea what was going on. His spirit was basically already gone.

MrsPramm

I've heard that there is often a period where a terminally ill person will seem to rally a few weeks before they pass away. It happens often enough that doctors learn to warn family members that their loved one isn't really getting better the way they always hoped, but is in fact just having a few good days on the way to the end.

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    • A quiet, reflective attitude is common during the final moments of life.
      By: tomas del amo
      A quiet, reflective attitude is common during the final moments of life.
    • An individual nearing the end of life may feel a need to mend broken relationships.
      By: ChantalS
      An individual nearing the end of life may feel a need to mend broken relationships.
    • Skin-color changes are common at the end of a person's life.
      By: Hakan Kızıltan
      Skin-color changes are common at the end of a person's life.
    • Hospice facilities may help people and families dealing with end of life care.
      By: Claudio's Pics
      Hospice facilities may help people and families dealing with end of life care.