The only thing guaranteed in life is death. But every individual has their own unique journey to death. Apart from causes of death that are immediate, the dying process may last for weeks for some people, while others may have a very brief process lasting a few days or hours. As your loved one approaches the end of their life, you may notice some changes in their hands, feet and knees.
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Deathly signs
The changes you see as an adult body slowly stops working depend on how close they are to drawing their last breath. For instance, according to WebMD, your loved one mat be sleeping or dozing more, while eating and drinking less when they are 1-3 months away from death.
During this time, they may also withdraw from people and may not want to talk as much as they used to. On the other hand, when they are barely days or hours from death, you may notice their eyes tear or glaze over, increased pulse and heartbeat as well as a drop in their body temperature.
Revealing signs on feet and knees
Hospice Foundation of America detailed other signs to look out for when a person is inching closer to their demise. According to the organization, the skin on their feet, knees and hands may become purplish, pale, grey and blotchy.
These changes usually signal that death will occur within days to hours. Pressure wounds can be chronic and develop at any stage of terminal illness, particularly if the person becomes very debilitated and is bed bound for a significant amount of time.
Whatever signs they may exhibit towards the end of their lives, experts at WebMD advise that you should stay with your loved one, keeping them calm. You might also want to consider gathering other family members and loved ones to say their final goodbyes.
Sources used:
The Mirror: Signs on your knees, feet and hands that someone is hours from death revealed by expert
Hospice Foundation: Signs of Approaching Death
WebMD: What to Expect When Your Loved One Is Dying
