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Every death is individual, just as we are all different in life. There are a few common changes that happen. Knowing what these changes are and how to manage them may be helpful.
It is usual and normal for people to experience these changes when death is near:
More tiredness and sleeping more
Eating and drinking less
Less passing urine and faeces
Being more drowsy and less alert
There is no need to be worried or concerned about these changes as they are part of the usual process of preparing for death.
Eating and drinking - If the person who is dying does not ask for food or drink or declines them there is no need to worry or try to force them to eat or drink
Mouth care - The person who is dying might not feel thirsty but their mouth can become dry and this can feel uncomfortable. You can help keep their mouth moist by giving them ice chips to suck or using a moistened swab [demonstrate use of swab]
Breathing - Sometimes people can have very noisy breathing; this breathing can sound very alarming but the person who is dying is not usually distressed by it. There is medication that can reduce this sound.
Pain and agitation - There is medication that can reduce these symptoms
Confusion - The person who is dying may be a bit confused. There is medication that can assist with this. You can also assist by telling them where they are and that they are being looked after. Confusion may be lessened by playing music that the person likes and having family members (familiar faces) around (especially if the person is in an unfamiliar environment such as the hospital).
Changing position - An air bed or a hospital bed and air mattress can be provided to help the person who is dying to feel comfortable in bed and to help you help them to change position every few hours.
A person can be close to death but not yet passed away for days or sometimes weeks. Sometimes a person can move close to death but then recover again; they may move in and out of this stage.
Even if a person wants to die at home, sometimes the final stages can be too much; it can be overwhelming. It is okay to call for help and ask for the person to be admitted to the local hospital. There are palliative care rooms available at Ararat, Maryborough, Willaura, Stawell, St Arnaud, and Beaufort. These rooms provide some privacy and opportunity for you to be with the dying person and nursing staff are available to assist you in caring. There may be the opportunity for a carer to sleep overnight at the hospital with the person who is dying - if this is what you would like to do, ask the staff about this option.
Central Grampians Palliative Care
eghs.net.au/services/ararat/pa...
Grampians Region Palliative Care Consortium grampianspalliativecare.com.au