“How to tell when someone may be in their final days (and what to do)”
One of the most common and hardest questions families ask is:
“How long do we have?”
And I wish there was a precise answer—but there isn’t. What we can do is look at patterns.
When we start to see a cluster of these changes, it often means someone may be entering their final days to weeks:
  • Sleeping much more, with shorter periods of wakefulness
  • Needing help to sit up or no longer able to stand
  • Less interest in food (sometimes stopping eating altogether)
  • Drinking less, or only small sips
  • Increased confusion or talking about past events
  • Less interest in visitors or conversation
  • Overall slowing down of the body
This doesn’t mean hours—but it often means we are no longer talking about months.
What matters most during this time:
  • Presence over perfection
  • Speak to them—even if they don’t respond
  • Keep things calm, quiet, and familiar
  • Touch matters (holding a hand, gentle lotion, sitting close)
  • Hearing is often one of the last senses to go
If you’re wondering whether to call family:
If people want meaningful time with them, it’s better to come a little too early than a little too late.
This is not about “getting it right.”
This is about being there in the ways that matter most.
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Jodi Newcomer
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“How to tell when someone may be in their final days (and what to do)”
Hospice Clarity
skool.com/hospice-clarity-8744
Understanding hospice, dying, and how to care for loved ones nearing end of life.
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