A hospice nurse has revealed 12 common signs that show someone may be nearing the end of their life.
Death is one of life’s few certainties. While it’s not exactly a delightful topic, the fear of the unknown can make it even more daunting.
To help ease some of that anxiety, Julie McFadden - a hospice nurse who goes by @hospicenursejulie on TikTok and YouTube - is reaching out to viewers with her videos.
The licensed health professional, who has spent years providing end-of-life care, uses her social media platforms to share insight into people's final moments in the hopes of destigmatizing death.
Three years ago, McFadden compiled a list of signs and symptoms that she believes indicate a person may be 1-3 months away from death.
The nurse believes the signs are the body’s way of preparing itself for the end.
Here’s what to look for:
- A decrease in food and water intake
- A decrease in functional ability
- An increase in sleep
- Dulled pain
- Intermittent confusion or disorientation
- Talking about or seeing deceased loved ones
- Changes in breathing patterns
- Changes in skin color
- Fever
- Glassy or teary eyes
- Reaching for things or staring into the distance
- Terminal Agitation
“All of these things are normal in death and dying,” McFadden explained in her video, which has almost 250K views.
The nurse's advice has resonated with many viewers who’ve experienced the loss of loved ones.
One commenter shared: "My Mum died today. Everything you said, Nurse Julie, was correct! She was 95 and in the final stages of Alzheimer's...THANK YOU JULIE for helping me to recognise that her death was near. It was still a shock and I miss her already."
Another wrote: "I was with both my parents when they died, and they had all these signs. It was sad, but we were happy they went to a better place where they weren't sick or old.”
A third penned: "Thank you so much for your beautiful educational videos. I was able to recognize when my Dad was actively dying and it really made the process more calm for me. Thank you."
And, a fourth added: "Thank you for your work here. My mom just passed from posterior Cortical Atrophy. It was [an] 8-year battle, and 18 days after she stopped eating and drinking. I watched hours of your videos, they helped so much."