impending death

Clinical manifestations

• 1-3 months prior
  • withdrawal from the world & people
  • decreased food intake
  • increased desire to sleep
  • going inside of self; less interest in outside world
  • less communication
• 1-2 weeks prior
  • disorientation
  • agitation
  • talking with the unseen, especially friends & relatives who have died
  • confusion
  • picking at clothes
  • sleeping but responding
  • increased fatigue & lethargy
  • eating & drinking very little
  • decreased blood pressure
  • increase or decrease in pulse
  • color changes, pale, bluish
  • increased perspiration
  • changes in respiration, increased congestion
  • fluctuations in body temperature
• hours to days prior to death
  • intensification of 1-2 week signs
  • possible temporary surge in energy
  • decrease in blood pressure
  • fixed gaze or expression
  • irregular respirations
  • restlessness or no activity
  • mottling of skin
  • weak pulse, difficult to find
  • decreased urine output
  • incontinence of bowel & bladder
• minutes prior to death
  • Cheyne-stokes breathing or very shallow respirations
  • cannot be awakened

More general terms

• end of life

Additional terms

• death
• hospice
• palliative care