Although the seven signs listed above concern mostly changes in the body and its behavior, the emotional state of mind of people who are nearing their final stage of life is as important.
Specialists in palliative care say that as people near the end of life, it’s very normal for them to experience emotional and mental shifts as well as physical ones. Getting emotionally distant, experiencing abrupt changes in mood, inquiries about spirituality, or profound thoughts about their own life and the universe can all be part of this. Some people may want to revisit their final wishes, talk more openly about relationships, or delve into personal beliefs in ways they never did before. Still, others say they like to spend time with themselves and come to terms with any regrets they have about the way they spent their lives and the choices they made.
Medical experts stress that these shifts are normal and not “problems” that need to be fixed. They are intimately tied to the body’s natural slowing rhythm and the mind’s anticipatory end-stage process.
What caregivers and loved ones can do is try and response the best they could in order to meet these feelings with patience, empathy, and compassion. They need to try their best to listen without judgment, to validate feelings no matter how awkward they turn out to be, and create a safe place to talk rather than attempting to talk these thoughts out of them. Being with someone in this emotional terrain can help them feel seen, heard, and supported in their experience during their last days.
It is important to note that not everyone person will experience all of these symptoms, and especially not at the same timing as others who had gone through the same. What the process feels like for each person is rather unique. Some individuals may experience mild changes for several months prior to their death, while others may deteriorate rapidly in a matter of weeks or days. Age, comorbidities, chronic disease, type of care received (hospice or non-hospice care), and individual physiology all influence how this process goes
