Resource Center

Everyone’s life is different. Death is an individual experience, too. For some people, the dying process may last weeks. For others, it may last a few days or hours. A dying person’s experience may be influenced by their illness or medications, but certain signs and symptoms are common. Patients who begin hospice care earlier in their illness may not experience any symptoms for many months. But as death approaches, you may notice some of these changes.

This resource offers a general overview of some of the symptoms dying persons may experience at the end of life. Individual experiences are influenced by many factors, including the person’s illness(es) and medications, but there are some physical changes that are common.

About the organization: Hospice Foundation of America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. HFA meets its mission by providing programs for professional development, public education and information; funding research, producing publications, and by providing information on issues related to advance care planning, hospice and palliative care, caregiving, and grief.