A bedridden patient is a person who requires special care. It is not enough for him to just prepare the food and serve the plate. He is unable to wash himself, or ensure normal hygiene after using the toilet, or straighten his bed linen after changing his body position. And if he is over 65 years old, then improperly performing care procedures or refusing them very quickly, literally in 2-3 days, ends with various complications. Therefore, we will talk about how to care for bedridden patients at home.
How can a person feel as death approaches?
We are not talking about a person for whom death is sudden, but about patients who have been sick for a long time and are bedridden. As a rule, such patients can experience mental anguish for a long time, because being in their right mind a person understands perfectly well what he has to endure. A dying person constantly feels all the changes that occur in his body. And all this ultimately contributes to constant changes in mood, as well as loss of mental balance.
Most bedridden patients withdraw into themselves. They begin to sleep a lot, but remain indifferent to everything that happens around them. There are also frequent cases when, just before death, patients’ health suddenly improves, but after a while the body becomes even weaker, followed by a failure of all vital functions of the body.
Bedridden patient: ten signs that death is near
At the end of the life cycle, an elderly person or a bedridden patient increasingly feels weak and tired due to lack of energy. As a result, he is increasingly in a state of sleep. It can be deep or a slumber through which voices are heard and the surrounding reality is perceived.
A dying person can see, hear, feel and perceive things and sounds that do not actually exist. In order not to upset the patient, you should not deny this. Disorientation and confusion may also occur. The patient becomes more and more immersed in himself and loses interest in the reality around him.
Due to kidney failure, urine darkens to an almost brown color with a reddish tint. As a result, swelling appears. The patient's breathing quickens, it becomes intermittent and unstable.
Under pale skin, as a result of impaired blood circulation, dark “walking” venous spots appear that change location. They usually appear first on the feet. In the last moments, the limbs of a dying person become cold due to the fact that the blood, flowing from them, is redirected to more important parts of the body.
Signs of imminent death
It is impossible to predict the exact time of departure to another world, but paying attention to the signs of approaching death is quite possible. Let's look at the main symptoms that may indicate imminent death:
- The patient loses his energy, sleeps a lot, and the periods of wakefulness become less and less each time. Sometimes a person can sleep for a whole day and stay awake for only a couple of hours.
- Breathing changes, the patient may breathe either too quickly or too slowly. In some cases, it may even seem that the person has completely stopped breathing for a while.
- He loses his hearing and vision, and sometimes hallucinations may occur. During such periods, the patient may hear or see something that is not really happening. You can often see him talking to people who have long been dead.
- A bedridden patient loses his appetite, and he not only stops eating protein foods, but also refuses to drink. To somehow allow moisture to seep into his mouth, you can dip a special sponge in water and moisten your dry lips with it.
- The color of the urine changes, it becomes dark brown or even dark red, and its smell becomes very pungent and toxic.
- Body temperature often changes, it can be high, and then drop sharply.
- An elderly bedridden patient may become lost in time.
Of course, it is impossible to extinguish the pain of loved ones from the imminent loss of their loved one, but it is still possible to prepare and prepare yourself psychologically.
Hygiene measures
Washing the body is described in detail in the article “Prevention of bedsores in bedridden patients.” Here we will focus on hygiene of the face, head and genitals.
Washing head
In order to wash your hair, you need to purchase a special inflatable bath - preferably one with a tube through which water can flow into a bucket. This bath should have a recess for the head, like washbasins in hairdressing salons.
See also:
- Prevention of bedsores in bedridden patients
- Rehabilitation after hip replacement
- Dementia stages and disease prognosis: challenges and solutions along the disease trajectory
Place an oilcloth or moisture-absorbing diaper at the head of the bed. Place this bath almost on the very edge and help the patient move there. The bath should be positioned so that the water flows calmly through the straw into the bucket.
Pour warm water over your head, lather it with shampoo, remove the water from the bath, then rinse with warm water, while simultaneously massaging your head. If your hair gets tangled, apply conditioner to it, which you will also need to rinse off later.
The hair is blotted with a soft towel and then dried with a hairdryer.
Washing
It is carried out daily in the morning and evening. In order to thoroughly remove dirt, sebaceous gland products and keratinized particles, use special soft sponges or reusable wipes for washing. This is done like this:
- You bring a basin with warm water and place it on a chair;
- dip a napkin or sponge in water and wipe the patient’s face (or he wipes it himself);
- then a washing cream, foam or gel (for example, Tena Wash Cream) is applied to the face, they are foamed, all areas of the face, ears and the area behind the ears are washed;
- Using the same napkin or sponge, repeatedly dipped in water, the facial cleanser is removed;
- the face is dried with blotting movements;
- the area around the eyes is wiped with cotton balls in the direction from the outer edge of the eye to the inner;
- moisturizer is applied to it.
Teeth cleaning
The patient performs it either independently (if he is conscious and his hand can move), or it is done by relatives using special silicone brushes that are placed on the finger.
The sequence of actions is the same as usual: wet the brush, apply a little paste on it (preferably medicinal, with oak bark or herbs), brush your teeth, cheek mucosa, and tongue on all sides. You can rinse your mouth with water, but it is better to do this with a decoction of sage or chamomile, and if your gums are bleeding, use oak bark.
Ear cleaning
It is performed daily with the help of washing, and once a week with ear sticks. It is better to buy the latter with restrictors or try not to insert them far into the ear canal, removing wax only from the outside.
Hand washing
To wash your hands you need to do the following:
- lay a moisture-absorbing diaper on top of the patient, place a light basin with warm water on it, in which a little hand detergent is diluted;
- Place your hands in the basin and let them soak for 1-2 minutes;
- wash your hands with a sponge, paying special attention to the space between the fingers;
- remove the patient's hands from the pelvis;
- dry them with a towel;
- apply cream on them.
Periodically you need to trim your nails and then file them with a soft file.
Shaving
This procedure is similar to washing:
- a basin with warm water is placed on the chair;
- shaving foam is applied to the face;
- The razor is used to remove hair in the direction opposite to its growth - the machine is dipped into a basin. This manipulation is repeated as many times as necessary to remove vegetation;
- wash your face with a cleansing cloth;
- wipe your face with a towel using blotting movements;
- Moisturizer is applied to the hairless skin after shaving.
Genital hygiene
It is best performed with the patient lying on the bed. An oilcloth/moisture-absorbing diaper is placed under this vessel, the patient’s legs are spread apart and placed on the heels, being bent at the knees.
Next, you need to wash your genitals with a soft sponge, onto which you apply washing foam or gel for intimate hygiene. The product is washed off by pouring water over the genitals. You need to wash everything: not only the genitals, but also the anus.
After this, the vessel is removed from under the patient, his genitals and buttocks are dried with blotting movements. After this, the diaper or oilcloth is removed from underneath it, and then a cream is applied to the skin, preferably Bepanten or Desitin.
Washing feet
It is carried out in the same way as washing your hands - by lowering your feet into a basin with warm soapy water. After wiping your feet, it is advisable to lubricate them with a rich cream, for example, “Baby Cream” or a mixture of sea buckthorn oil, baby cream and vitamin A, mixed 1:1:1.
What does drowsiness and weakness in a bedridden patient indicate?
When death approaches, a bedridden patient begins to sleep a lot, and the point is not that he feels very tired, but that it is simply difficult for such a person to wake up. The patient is often in deep sleep, so his reaction is inhibited. This condition is close to coma. The manifestation of excessive weakness and drowsiness naturally slows down some of a person’s physiological abilities, so in order to roll over from one side to the other or go to the toilet, he will need help.
Prevention of congestive pneumonia
Congestive pneumonia in bedridden patients can develop in just a few days, especially if they suffer from heart disease. This disease creeps up unnoticed, is very difficult to treat and can result in the death of a person.
To prevent this from happening, you need to carry out a set of preventive measures. They are described in detail in the article “Congestive pneumonia in bedridden patients,” and breathing exercises can be found in the article “Breathing exercises for bedridden patients.”
What changes occur in respiratory function?
Relatives who care for the patient may notice how his rapid breathing will sometimes give way to breathlessness. And over time, the patient’s breathing may become moist and stagnant, causing wheezing to be heard when inhaling or exhaling. It occurs because fluid collects in the lungs, which is no longer removed naturally by coughing.
Sometimes the patient is helped by being turned from one side to the other, then the liquid can come out of the mouth. Some patients are prescribed oxygen therapy to relieve suffering, but it does not prolong life.
Why does a bedridden patient sleep a lot?
Immobility is a serious condition that negatively affects the functioning of all organs. Metabolism changes, vascular pathologies begin to develop, blood flow speed decreases and brain nutrition deteriorates. It takes more time and effort to restore the body, so in this state a bedridden patient sleeps a lot, especially in old age.
In addition to immobility itself, the following factors can contribute to constant sleep:
| Body condition | Causes |
| Age-related changes | Lack of sunlight leads to vitamin D deficiency, causing fatigue and drowsiness. With age, the body absorbs beneficial elements from food worse, and hypovitaminosis occurs, causing lethargy and a desire to sleep. Due to the weakened tone of the diaphragm and chest muscles, less oxygen enters the lungs, which slows down metabolic processes, increases fatigue and the desire to rest. Long periods of falling asleep at night cause daytime sleepiness. |
| Atherosclerosis | Blockage of blood vessels in the brain provokes poor blood circulation and oxygen deficiency. As a result, partial death of brain cells occurs, headaches appear, thought processes slow down, and the body requires sleep. |
| Asthenia (neurological disease) | Due to infectious and mental diseases, the body becomes depleted. A person strives to forget himself in a dream. |
| Stroke | Due to damage to the brain cells responsible for falling asleep and waking up, sleep disturbance occurs. |
| Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine | Infringement of blood vessels and nerve roots leads to poor blood circulation and nutrition of the brain. |
| Injuries | Tissue regeneration requires additional sleep. |
| Terminal state | Weakening of the whole body, slowdown of metabolic processes, and, as a result, suspended animation. |
If the disease is curable, and the bedridden patient sleeps all the time, it means that the body needs strength to recover. This should not bother caregivers. This situation will soon change, and sleep will return to normal.
How do vision and hearing change?
Minute clouding of consciousness in severely ill patients can be directly related to changes in vision and hearing. This often happens in their last weeks of life, for example, they stop seeing and hearing well, or, on the contrary, they hear things that no one else can hear.
The most common are visual hallucinations just before death, when a person thinks that someone is calling him or he sees someone. In this case, doctors recommend agreeing with the dying person in order to at least somehow cheer him up; you should not deny what the patient sees or hears, otherwise it can greatly upset him.
Refusal of food, long sleep during the terminal stage
Fasting and pathologically long sleep may indicate approaching death. A lack of nutrients occurs, dehydration develops, and the lack of calories consumed causes weakness. The imminent death is indicated by:
- Hallucinations;
- Apathy;
- Altered consciousness;
- The appearance of venous spots;
- Active development of swelling of the extremities;
- Significant reduction in blood pressure;
- Respiratory system depression.
If the patient refuses to eat and drink, constantly sleeps, you should not force him to wake him up and feed him, this will not lead to anything good. Experts advise from time to time to offer him something to drink or wet the patient’s lips. Try not to disturb your loved one for no particular reason, try to support him, hold his hand more, talk to him. Try to convey to him that he is surrounded by family and loving people.
How does your appetite change?
In a bedridden patient, before death, the metabolic process may be reduced, which is why he stops wanting to eat and drink.
Naturally, to support the body, the patient should still be given at least some nutritious food, so it is recommended to feed the person in small portions until he is able to swallow. And when this ability is lost, then it is no longer possible to do without IVs.
Bowel movement before death
When the heart stops beating and breathing stops, death occurs. Oxygen stops flowing to brain cells, causing them to die. As a biological concept, death is considered from the point of view of the irreversible cessation of the vital activity of the organism.
Death can be violent (occurs as a result of intentional and unintentional actions, injuries or accidents), natural (occurs due to the natural wear and tear of the body) or from disease (when life is incompatible with certain changes in the body that are caused by pathological processes).
The first signs of imminent death
There are so many common signs that indicate the end of a person’s life:
- Pain. This is a rather severe sign of death, but it can be observed in oncology and other fatal diseases.
- Breathing problems. This is a more common symptom that is observed in almost all dying people.
- Anxiety. Often dying people want to go somewhere, have time to do something, say something to someone and are worried that there is too little time left for this.
- Decreased appetite. The dying body no longer needs calories and nutrition, so appetite disappears completely. Subsequently, the swallowing reflex is lost.
- Nausea and vomiting. In most cases, they are observed during the treatment of a long-term illness with medications.
- Impaired intestinal motility.
- Rave. This phenomenon is caused by pain, a decrease in the amount of oxygen in the brain, taking medications, and others.
- Wet, rattling breathing , which is associated with the dying person becoming too weak to clear the accumulated secretions from the airways.
- Focusing inward. Quite often, at the end of life, a person does not feel the desire to communicate with people, even with his most loved ones.
However, these are only general signs of the approaching end of life, which may vary depending on the cause of the death.
An old man's
When natural death approaches, a person exhibits the following symptoms:
- constant drowsiness, gradual loss of energy, alert state tends to zero;
- breathing becomes weaker;
- as a result of changes in auditory and visual perception of reality, hallucinations are possible;
- the functioning of the excretory organs is disrupted - stools are delayed, urine turns brown;
- temperature jumps - from very high to critically low;
- apathy and indifference;
- Memories from the distant past appear, despite the fact that a person may not remember anything about the events of an hour ago.
in a bedridden patient
Each of the symptoms listed below can be caused by a long-term illness, and therefore is reversible. Sometimes relatives wonder: how long will a bedridden patient live if he does not eat or drink?
a bedridden patient before death can actually sleep a lot, not because he is very tired, but because it becomes difficult for him to wake up, and he eats very little, because he has practically no appetite and strength. but it is difficult to say how long he will live based on these signs.
this state is almost comatose. weakness and excessive drowsiness lead to the fact that a person’s physiological abilities naturally slow down, and the dying person needs help to turn on his side or go to the toilet.
frequent breathing may be replaced by its absence, then wet and stagnant breathing appears, and the person is no longer able to clear his throat.
The dying person almost no longer needs food, however, it is still necessary to feed the person in small portions until he can swallow. when this function is lost, it is necessary to switch to drip nutrition.
Often a bedridden patient experiences pain that is associated with the illness that put the person to bed.
a change in mood is possible due to clouding of consciousness; in some cases, it seems to the dying person that everything he says is misunderstood by his family, and as a result, aggression may arise. however, in most cases, a person stops communicating with family and becomes self-absorbed.
in a cancer patient
An approaching death from cancer can be traced by the following signs:
- loss of appetite. the patient may really want fish in the morning, and categorically refuse it at lunchtime. in addition, the patient begins to gradually turn away from meat dishes. A serious illness weakens the body so much that it becomes very difficult to digest meat.
- fatigue, apathy, nervous breakdowns. all this happens due to exhaustion. a person gives up and gives up, because there is no longer any strength left to fight the disease.
- Difficulty breathing – shallow inhalations and exhalations, wheezing.
- self-isolation. The closer the end is, the more the patient strives to remain alone and sleep.
- problems with urination - darkening of urine.
- poor vascular activity - the appearance of edema, blue spots.
- freezing. To prolong a person's life, blood tends to the heart, causing the extremities to become cold.
after a stroke
Symptoms of death after a stroke usually appear within 15 minutes:
- a person does not react to ammonia and does not recover from blows to the cheeks;
- there is no reaction of the pupils to light;
- the pupils take on an oval shape;
- no breathing or pulse;
- clouding of the eye cornea is observed.
If death after a stroke occurs within the first 24 hours, its signs are as follows:
- dry skin and mucous membranes;
- rigor mortis and spots;
- a sharp drop in temperature.
important! Death from a stroke can be prevented if the patient is provided with highly qualified medical care as soon as possible.
Watch this video about the signs of death:
common dying symptoms
General pre-mortem signs can only be considered in old people or in bedridden patients. Sudden death is not accompanied by any signs, because they simply cannot exist.
Changing your daily routine
As has already been said, a dying person sleeps most of the time. When he wakes up, he is in an alert state for a short time, after which he falls asleep again.
This phenomenon may be due not only to the general exhaustion of the patient, but also to the fact that he does not want his loved ones to see his suffering. Short intervals between sleep become increasingly rare, and death may occur in sleep.
Swelling and skin changes
Progressive renal or heart failure provokes the appearance of edema - that is, the accumulation of fluid in the human body. Most often, it accumulates at a considerable distance from the heart - in the feet and hands. As a rule, such a symptom no longer requires any specific measures, since it is not the cause of dying, but only part of this process.
The skin becomes dry and pale. Sometimes blue venous spots may appear on them, for example, on the legs, this is due to a decrease in the functionality of the blood vessels. See what venous spots look like in the photo below:
Problems with the senses
If we talk about natural death from old age, then people in old age often have problems with hearing and vision. Signs of death appear not only in the deterioration of the functioning of the senses, but in a change in the appearance of a person. “Cat's eye” is the name given to a visual change in the eye of a dying person, which is associated with a sharp drop in ocular pressure.
Decreased or complete loss of appetite. Since the dying person spends most of his time sleeping, the need for food decreases. The closer the end of life is, the more likely it is that the swallowing reflex is lost, and then the person receives nutrition through a tube or IV. It is quite difficult to say how long this condition can last in an elderly person.
Violation of thermoregulation. The body spends all its remaining energy to maintain the functioning of vital organs; as a result, the blood circulation decreases, which leads to paresis and paralysis.
General weakness
This symptom is directly related to the lack of nutrition of the body.
Just before death, a person cannot even get up.
What changes occur in the bladder and intestines before death?
Signs of imminent death of a patient are directly related to changes in the functioning of the kidneys and intestines. The kidneys stop producing urine, so it becomes dark brown in color, because the filtration process is disrupted. A small amount of urine can contain a huge amount of toxins that have a detrimental effect on the entire body.
Such changes can lead to complete failure of the kidneys, the person falls into a coma and dies after a while. Due to the fact that appetite decreases, changes occur in the intestines themselves. The stool becomes hard, causing constipation. The patient needs to alleviate the condition, so relatives who care for him are recommended to give the patient an enema every three days or make sure that he takes a laxative on time.
Prevention of bedsores
Bedsores are the main “scourge” of a bedridden patient. These areas of tissue death occur quite quickly, especially in weakened patients, and, when infected, can lead to their death.
To prevent them from occurring, you need to take action from the very first day your relative lost the ability to move. This:
- turning the patient at least 5 times a day;
- placing inflatable pillows or bags of sand/cereals under the bone protrusions;
- constant monitoring of the absence of wrinkles on clothes, diapers and bedding;
- a diet rich in vitamins and proteins, but not containing salty, fried or smoked foods;
- constantly ensuring that the skin is dry and clean;
- massage of areas prone to bedsores using blood circulation enhancing agents.
Of course, they require effort, but they make it possible for a bedridden patient to live longer and with a better quality of life, and for caring relatives not to spend a huge amount of effort and money on treatment.
For more information on how to prevent bedsores, read the article “Prevention of bedsores in bedridden patients.”
How does body temperature change?
If there is a bedridden patient in the house, the signs before death can be very diverse. Relatives may notice that a person’s body temperature is constantly changing. This is due to the fact that the part of the brain that is responsible for thermoregulation may not function well.
At some point, body temperature can rise to 39 degrees, but after half an hour it can drop significantly. Naturally, in this case, it will be necessary to give the patient antipyretic drugs, most often Ibuprofen or Aspirin are used. If the patient does not have the function of swallowing, then antipyretic suppositories can be given or an injection can be given.
Just before death, the temperature immediately drops, the arms and legs become cold, and the skin in these areas becomes covered with red spots.
The dangers of long sleep
If a bedridden patient constantly sleeps, this may be a sign of the development of diseases (ministroke, encephalitis, diabetes). This is how the body tries to fight the disease, so it is important not to miss the moment and seek medical help in time.
Pathologically long sleep negatively affects the state of the body, provokes the development of various diseases, depresses the nervous system, and leads to the following conditions:
- decreased brain activity;
- increased blood sugar levels;
- weaknesses;
- metabolic disorders;
- development of migraines.
If a bedridden patient sleeps fitfully for a long time due to pain and negative emotions, then after eliminating these factors the person can sleep for several days. This is a normal process for the body and should not cause alarm.
Note. Older people are sensitive to weather. Winter time and a decrease in atmospheric pressure causes an irresistible desire to sleep at any time of the day.
Why does a person’s mood often change before death?
A dying person, without realizing it, is gradually preparing himself for death. He has enough time to analyze his entire life and draw conclusions about what was done right or wrong. It seems to the patient that everything he says is misinterpreted by his family and friends, so he begins to withdraw into himself and stops communicating with others.
In many cases, clouding of consciousness occurs, so a person can remember everything that happened to him a long time ago in the smallest details, but he will no longer remember what happened an hour ago. It can be scary when this condition reaches the point of psychosis, in which case it is necessary to consult a doctor who can prescribe sedatives to the patient.
Eating disorders: the consequences are obvious
Regular refusal of food in older people invariably leads to the fact that the body ceases to receive vitamins and microelements necessary for normal life. It is not surprising that in the absence of a full-fledged source of energy and strength, weakness and a general deterioration in well-being appear. Nutrient deficiency leads to rapid weight loss and rapid physical and mental exhaustion. The body simply does not have the resources to recover.
In addition to external changes, there are interruptions in the functioning of internal organs. First of all, the pancreas suffers: without water and food, insulin is not produced. Relatives and friends can resort to artificial feeding: this can improve the situation, but does not replace full meals.
The patient spends almost all the time in bed, even minimal exertion leads to severe fatigue. The body is catastrophically short of heat and energy.
How can I help a dying person relieve physical pain?
A bedridden patient after a stroke or a person who has become incapacitated due to another illness may experience severe pain. To somehow alleviate his suffering, it is necessary to use painkillers.
A pain reliever may be prescribed by your doctor. And if the patient does not have any problems with swallowing, then the drugs can be in the form of tablets, but in other cases injections will have to be used.
If a person has a serious illness that is accompanied by severe pain, then it will be necessary to use drugs that are available only by prescription, for example, these could be Fentanyl, Codeine or Morphine.
Today, there are many drugs that will be effective for pain, some of them are produced in the form of drops that are dripped under the tongue, and sometimes even a patch can provide significant help to the patient. There is a category of people who are very careful about painkillers, citing the fact that addiction may occur. To avoid addiction, as soon as a person begins to feel better, you can stop taking the drug for a while.
Emotional stress experienced by the dying person
Changes with a person before death concern not only his physical health, but also affect his psychological state. If a person experiences a little stress, then this is normal, but if the stress lasts for a long time, then most likely this is the deep depression that a person experiences before death. The fact is that everyone can have their own emotional experiences and will show their own signs before death.
A bedridden patient will experience not only physical pain, but also mental pain, which will have an extremely negative impact on his general condition and will bring the moment of death closer.
But even if a person has a fatal illness, relatives should try to cure their loved one’s depression. In this case, the doctor may prescribe antidepressants or consultations with a psychologist. This is a natural process when a person becomes despondent, knowing that he has very little time left to live in the world, so relatives should do their best to distract the patient from sad thoughts.
A sign of a person's imminent death has been named: 7 days before death you will feel these symptoms
It is not customary to talk about death out loud in our time. This is a very sensitive topic and not for the faint of heart.
But there are times when knowledge is very useful, especially if there is a cancer patient or a bedridden elderly person at home.
After all, this helps to mentally prepare for the inevitable end and notice the changes taking place in time. Let's discuss together the signs of death of a patient and pay attention to their key features.
Most often, signs of imminent death are classified into primary and secondary. Some develop as a consequence of others. It is logical that if a person begins to sleep more, then he eats less, etc. We will look at all of them.
But, cases may be different and exceptions to the rules are acceptable. The same as options for a normal median survival rate, even with a symbiosis of terrible signs of a change in the patient’s condition.
This is a kind of miracle that happens at least once in a century.
Changing sleep and wake patterns
Discussing the initial signs of approaching death, doctors agree that the patient has less and less time to stay awake. He is more often immersed in superficial sleep and seems to be dozing. This saves precious energy and reduces pain. The latter fades into the background, becoming, as it were, background. Of course, the emotional side suffers greatly.
The paucity of expression of one’s feelings, the self-isolation of the desire to remain silent more than to speak leave an imprint on relationships with others. The desire to ask and answer any questions, to be interested in everyday life and the people around you disappears.
As a result, in advanced cases, patients become apathetic and detached. They sleep almost 20 hours a day unless there is acute pain or serious irritating factors. Unfortunately, such an imbalance threatens stagnant processes, mental problems and accelerates death.
Swelling
Swelling appears on the lower extremities.
Very reliable signs of death are swelling and spots on the legs and arms. We are talking about malfunctions in the kidneys and circulatory system.
In the first case of oncology, the kidneys do not have time to cope with toxins and they poison the body. In this case, metabolic processes are disrupted, blood is redistributed unevenly in the vessels, forming areas with spots.
It is not for nothing that they say that if such marks appear, then we are talking about complete dysfunction of the limbs.
Problems with hearing, vision, perception
The first signs of death are changes in hearing, vision and normal sensation of what is happening around. Such changes can occur against the background of severe pain, cancer, blood stagnation or tissue death.
Often, before death, you can observe a phenomenon with the pupils. The eye pressure drops and when pressed you can see how the pupil is deformed like a cat's. Regarding hearing, everything is relative.
It can recover in the last days of life or even worsen, but this is more agony.
Reduced need for food
Deterioration of appetite and sensitivity are signs of imminent death.
When a cancer patient is at home, all her loved ones note the signs of death. She gradually refuses food. First, the dose decreases from a plate to a quarter of a saucer, and then the swallowing reflex gradually disappears. There is a need for nutrition through a syringe or tube.
In half of the cases, a system with glucose and vitamin therapy is connected. But the effectiveness of such support is very low. The body tries to use up its own fat reserves and minimize waste.
This worsens the patient’s general condition, causing drowsiness and difficulty breathing.
Urinary problems and problems with natural needs
It is believed that problems with going to the toilet are also signs of approaching death. No matter how funny it may seem, in reality there is a completely logical chain in this. If defecation is not carried out once every two days or with the regularity to which a person is accustomed, then feces accumulate in the intestines. Even stones can form.
As a result, toxins are absorbed from them, which seriously poison the body and reduce its performance. It's about the same story with urination. It's harder for the kidneys to work. They allow less and less fluid to pass through and eventually the urine comes out saturated. It contains a high concentration of acids and even blood is noted.
For relief, a catheter can be installed, but this is not a panacea against the general background of unpleasant consequences for a bedridden patient.
Problems with thermoregulation
Weakness is a sign of imminent death
Natural signs before the death of a patient are impaired thermoregulation and agony. The limbs begin to get very cold. Especially if the patient has paralysis, then we can even talk about the progress of the disease.
The blood circulation decreases. The body fights for life and tries to maintain the functioning of the main organs, thereby depriving the limbs. They may turn pale and even become blue with venous spots.
Weakness of the body
The signs of imminent death may be different for everyone, depending on the situation. But most often, we are talking about severe weakness, weight loss and general fatigue.
A period of self-isolation begins, which is aggravated by internal processes of intoxication and necrosis. The patient cannot even raise his arm or stand on a duck for natural needs.
The process of urination and defecation can occur spontaneously and even unconsciously.
Foggy mind
Many see signs of approaching death in the way the patient’s normal reaction to the world around him disappears. He can become aggressive, nervous, or vice versa – very passive.
Memory disappears and attacks of fear may occur due to this. The patient does not immediately understand what is happening and who is nearby. The areas in the brain responsible for thinking die.
And obvious inadequacy may appear.
Predagonia
This is a protective reaction of all vital systems in the body. Often, it is expressed in the onset of stupor or coma. The main role is played by regression of the nervous system, which causes in the future: - decreased metabolism - insufficient ventilation of the lungs due to respiratory failure or alternation of rapid breathing with stopping
- serious damage to organ tissue
Agony
Agony is characteristic of the last minutes of a person’s life
Agony is usually called a clear improvement in the patient’s condition against the background of destructive processes in the body. Essentially, these are the last efforts to maintain the necessary functions for continued existence.
The following may be noted: - improved hearing and return of vision - improved breathing rhythm - normalization of heart contractions - restoration of consciousness in the patient - muscle activity like cramps - reduced sensitivity to pain Agony can last from several minutes to an hour.
Usually, it seems to foreshadow clinical death, when the brain is still alive, and oxygen ceases to flow into the tissues.
These are typical signs of death in bedridden people. But you shouldn’t dwell too much on them. After all, there may be another side of the coin.
It happens that one or two such signs are simply a consequence of an illness, but they are completely reversible with proper care. Even a hopelessly bedridden patient may not have all these signs before death. And this is not an indicator. So, it’s difficult to talk about mandatory
Source: https://lostworlds.mirtesen.ru/blog/43195580452/Nazvan-priznak-skoroy-smerti-cheloveka:-za-7-day-do-smerti-vyi-
Additional symptoms before death
It should be noted that there are different signs before death. A bedridden patient may experience symptoms that are not detected in others. For example, some patients often complain of constant nausea and vomiting, although their disease has nothing to do with the gastrointestinal tract. This process is easily explained by the fact that due to illness, the body becomes weaker and cannot cope with the digestion of food, which can cause certain problems with the functioning of the stomach.
In this case, relatives will need to seek help from a doctor who can prescribe medications to alleviate this condition. For example, for persistent constipation, a laxative can be used, and for nausea, other effective medications are prescribed that will dull this unpleasant feeling.
Naturally, not a single such drug can save a life or prolong it indefinitely, but it is still possible to alleviate the suffering of a loved one, so it would be wrong not to take advantage of this chance.
Bedridden patient: how to recognize the signs of impending death?
Relatives of a dying patient at home should be aware of what they may encounter in the last days, hours, moments of his life. It is impossible to accurately predict the moment of death and how everything will happen. Not all of the symptoms and signs described above may be present before the death of a bedridden patient.
The stages of dying, like the processes of the birth of life, are individual. No matter how hard it is for relatives, you need to remember that it’s even harder for a dying person. Close people need to be patient and provide the dying person with the best possible conditions, moral support and attention and care. Death is an inevitable outcome of the life cycle, and this cannot be changed.
How to care for a dying relative?
Today there are special means for caring for bedridden patients. With their help, the person caring for the patient makes his work much easier. But the fact is that a dying person requires not only physical care, but also a lot of attention - he needs constant conversations in order to be distracted from his sad thoughts, and only family and friends can provide emotional conversations.
A sick person must be absolutely calm, and unnecessary stress will only bring the minutes of his death closer. To alleviate the suffering of a relative, you need to seek help from qualified doctors who can prescribe all the necessary medications to help overcome many unpleasant symptoms.
All the signs listed above are general, and it should be remembered that each person is individual, which means that the body can behave differently in different situations. And if there is a bedridden patient in the house, his signs before death may turn out to be completely unexpected for you, since everything depends on the disease and on the individuality of the organism.
Before death, elderly patients begin to cleanse the intestines
A person's life journey ends with his death. You need to be prepared for this, especially if there is a bedridden patient in the family. The signs before death will be different for each person. However, observational practice shows that it is still possible to identify a number of general symptoms that portend the approach of death. What are these signs and what should you prepare for?
How does a dying person feel?
A bedridden patient usually experiences mental anguish before death. In a sane mind there is an understanding of what is to be experienced. The body undergoes certain physical changes, this cannot be ignored. On the other hand, the emotional background also changes: mood, mental and psychological balance.
Some people lose interest in life, others completely withdraw into themselves, and others may fall into a state of psychosis.
Sooner or later, the condition worsens, the person feels that he is losing his own dignity, more often thinks about a quick and easy death, and asks for euthanasia. These changes are difficult to observe and remain indifferent.
But you will have to come to terms with this or try to alleviate the situation with medications.
As death approaches, the patient sleeps more and more, showing apathy towards the world around him. In the last moments, there may be a sharp improvement in the condition, reaching the point that the patient, who has been lying down for a long time, is eager to get out of bed. This phase is replaced by subsequent relaxation of the body with an irreversible decrease in the activity of all body systems and the attenuation of its vital functions.
Bedridden patient: ten signs that death is near
At the end of the life cycle, an elderly person or a bedridden patient increasingly feels weak and tired due to lack of energy. As a result, he is increasingly in a state of sleep. It can be deep or a slumber through which voices are heard and the surrounding reality is perceived.
A dying person can see, hear, feel and perceive things and sounds that do not actually exist. In order not to upset the patient, you should not deny this. Disorientation and confusion may also occur. The patient becomes more and more immersed in himself and loses interest in the reality around him.
Due to kidney failure, urine darkens to an almost brown color with a reddish tint. As a result, swelling appears. The patient's breathing quickens, it becomes intermittent and unstable.
Failure of life support systems
There are primary signs that appear at the initial stage in the body of a dying person, and secondary signs that indicate the development of irreversible processes. Symptoms may be external or hidden.
Gastrointestinal tract disorders
How does a bedridden patient react to this? Signs before death associated with loss of appetite and changes in the nature and amount of food consumed, manifested by problems with stool. Most often, constipation develops against this background. Without a laxative or an enema, it becomes increasingly difficult for a patient to empty his bowels.
Patients spend the last days of their lives completely refusing food and water. Don't worry too much about this. It is believed that when dehydrated, the body increases the synthesis of endorphins and anesthetics, which to some extent improve overall well-being.
How does the condition of patients change and how does a bedridden patient react to this? Signs before death associated with weakening of the sphincters in the last few hours of a person's life include fecal and urinary incontinence. In such cases, you must be prepared to provide him with hygienic conditions by using absorbent linen, diapers or nappies.
Even with an appetite, there are situations when the patient loses the ability to swallow food, and soon water and saliva. This may lead to aspiration.
With severe exhaustion, when the eyeballs are severely sunken, the patient is unable to completely close the eyelids. This has a depressing effect on those around you. If the eyes are constantly open, the conjunctiva must be moistened with special ointments or saline.
What are the symptoms of these changes if the patient is bedridden? Signs before death in a weakened person in an unconscious state are manifested by terminal tachypnea - death rattles are heard against the background of frequent respiratory movements.
This is due to the movement of mucous secretion in the large bronchi, trachea and pharynx. This condition is quite normal for a dying person and does not cause him suffering. If it is possible to place the patient on his side, wheezing will be less pronounced.
The beginning of the death of the part of the brain responsible for thermoregulation is manifested by jumps in the patient’s body temperature in the critical range. He may feel hot flashes and sudden cold. The limbs are cold, the sweating skin changes color.
Road to death
Delirium with agitation is complicated by a feeling of anxiety, fear, often turning into a need to go somewhere or run. Sometimes this is speech anxiety, manifested by an unconscious flow of words.
A patient in this state can only perform simple actions, without fully understanding what he is doing, how and why. The ability to reason logically is impossible for him.
These phenomena are reversible if the cause of such changes is identified in time and treated with medication.
Painful sensations
Before death, what symptoms and signs in a bedridden patient indicate physical suffering?
In general, uncontrollable pain rarely worsens in the last hours of a dying person's life. However, it is still possible. An unconscious patient will not be able to let you know about this. Nevertheless, it is believed that pain even in such cases causes excruciating suffering. A sign of this is usually a tense forehead and deep wrinkles appearing on it.
If, when examining an unconscious patient, there is evidence of developing pain, the doctor usually prescribes opiates. You should be careful, as they can accumulate and over time aggravate an already serious condition due to the development of excessive overexcitation and convulsions.
Giving help
A bedridden patient may experience significant suffering before death. Relief of symptoms of physiological pain can be achieved with drug therapy. Mental suffering and psychological discomfort of the patient, as a rule, become a problem for relatives and close family members of the dying person.
An experienced doctor, at the stage of assessing the general condition of the patient, can recognize the initial symptoms of irreversible pathological changes in cognitive processes.
This is primarily: absent-mindedness, perception and understanding of reality, adequacy of thinking when making decisions.
You can also notice disturbances in the affective function of consciousness: emotional and sensory perception, attitude to life, the relationship of the individual with society.
Source: https://kishechnik-zhivot.ru/voprosy/pered-smertyu-u-pozhilyh-bolnyh-nachinaetsya-chistka-kishechnika
