Most of us have heard this term. It is the noisy rattling sound that a dying person makes that can be very disturbing to hear. Death rattle happens when secretions gather in the throat because the person is too weak to swallow. The gurgling sound happens when air passes through the secretions upon exhale. This doesn’t necessarily mean the person is having trouble breathing.
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As a person nears the end of life, there are some very basic similarities that may be seen which crosses the type of illness or ‘reason’ for dying. Below is a list of some of these behaviors. Usually, the closer to death the more pronounced the symptom. Simple to complicated, easy to difficult, know there is always something that can be done to relieve any suffering that may accompany any of the following:
I belong to Hospice Community Forum and just had a discussion with an “11th hour volunteer.” An 11th hour volunteer is a person who sits at the bedside of the dying, usually when death is imminent or within 24 hours or so. They are very much akin to a death doula. Well, he brought up the issue of creating a peaceful environment, which can be especially challenging in a nursing home. To all the nursing homes out there, most of you do a great job … but, there are some situations that nobody should have to endure, especially when he is dying. |
AuthorIn fall 2014, I moved some old blog posts here that I had written years ago from 2007 to 2010. Hope they are helpful. Archives
February 2010
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