Irish Hospice Foundation
Toolkit for Compassionate End-of-Life Care
27
Clear, open and sensitive communication is important. If a person has entered the dying phase,then it is vital that this is communicated, in keeping with the person’s wishes, to them and those they have designated, such as friends and relatives.
Poor communication is often stated as a reason for complaints within health services. Not communicating that a person is dying, or not understanding that death is close, can increase the distress felt by loved ones, and may have a negative impact on the subsequent grieving process. ere are resources available to support communications for those caring for people facing end of life in hospitals and nursing homes on bereaved.ie. It is important that the possibility that a person may die within the next few days or hours is communicated clearly to the person and the people they wish to know.
The ʚnal hours - when dying is imminent
It can be difficult to predict when a person is nearing death. ere are, however, signs that show death is approaching: • e person becomes deeply unconscious, with no waking episodes. • ere is cooling of the hands and feet as blood is diverted away from the limbs to the torso. • eir heartbeat is irregular. • ere may be stiffness in the limbs due to immobility. • eir breathing pattern may have changed. ere may be long gaps without breathing, followed by several big breaths. is intermittent pattern is called Cheyne Stokes breathing. • Difficulties in swallowing lead to a build-up of saliva at the back of the throat. is can cause noisy breathing, often referred to as the death rattle. is can be very distressing to see. However, at this stage the person is so deeply unconscious that they are not caused any discomfort by this. Other people may need your support to understand what they see as their loved one dies. More information about supporting grieving people is on bereaved.ie.
Useful Resource: Dr Kathryn Mannix Dr Kathryn Mannix explains the dying process in a short BBC Ideas video ‘Dying is not as bad as you think’ .
Scan here to view.
Care of the Dying Person 4
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker