Chapter 6: As death nears

The signs

The palliative care expert says
Description to come (3:22)Video transcript

The palliative care doctor told me what was going to happen to him in the next few hours. And it happened. And I still wasn’t ready – how can anyone be ready?

Although no two people experience illness in the same way, an illness usually begins to weaken the body in the same general way when a person is nearing death. Click on each phrase below to find out more about some of the common signs.

What may help

Open, honest communication with the healthcare team is helpful. Keep in mind that many healthcare providers will be watching for cues from you about how much information you are ready to receive. You may have to let your healthcare team know you are ready to have more detailed information.