How long does someone have once these changes start?
There is no exact clock.
There is no exact clock. Once someone has clear signs of dying, they may have hours, days or sometimes longer. The timing depends on the illness, infections or other events, how weak the person is, whether they can still drink, and how quickly their condition is changing.
The closer someone is to death, the easier it may be for the treating team to recognise the pattern. Even then, they may only be able to speak in broad terms, such as "hours to days" or "days to a short number of weeks".
General information: This page gives general information for people in Australia. It cannot tell you exactly what is happening in one person's situation. If you have concerns about a symptom, medicine, treatment decision or change in someone's condition, contact their doctor, palliative care team, nurse or other treating health professional.
Why timing is hard to predict
Dying is not the same for every person. Some people slowly become weaker over weeks. Others change quickly after an infection, bleeding, a fall, organ failure, a stroke, or a sudden worsening of their illness.
The same sign can mean different things in different people. Eating less over months may happen in advanced cancer, dementia or frailty. Not being able to swallow at all, together with deep sleep, little urine and changed breathing, may suggest death is much closer.
CareSearch notes that the terminal phase can be hard to predict and may range from short hours to many days. Better Health Channel also says no one can give an exact answer, although timing may become easier to judge as death gets closer.
Changes that may mean days to weeks
Death may be getting closer over days or weeks when the person:
- spends most of the day in bed or a chair
- needs help with most or all personal care
- is eating and drinking much less
- is losing weight and strength
- sleeps more and talks less
- has occasional confusion
- has less interest in visitors or the outside world.
These changes may still last longer than expected, especially in illnesses that move slowly. Ask the team what they are seeing across days, not only in one moment.
Changes that may mean hours to days
Death may be close when several of these changes happen together:
- the person is hard to wake or unconscious
- they cannot swallow safely
- they take little or no food or fluid
- urine is very reduced or has stopped
- breathing is very irregular, rattly, shallow or has long pauses
- hands, feet or knees are cool, mottled or blotchy
- the person is bed-bound and very weak
- the team says the body is shutting down.
Even with these signs, some people live longer than the family expects. Others die before everyone arrives. This uncertainty is painful, but it is common.
What to do with uncertain time
Use the time in practical ways, if you can. Ask who should be called. Check the after-hours plan. Make sure medicines and supplies are available if the person is at home. Ask what to do if breathing changes, swallowing stops, or the person becomes restless.
If there are people who need to visit, tell them the situation may be changing. Avoid promising an exact time. A plain message is often enough: "The team thinks death may be close. If you want to come, now may be the time."
It is also reasonable to keep the room calm and limit visitors if the person seems unsettled. Their comfort comes first.
Questions to ask the treating team
You can ask:
- "Are we talking about hours, days, or longer?"
- "What signs make you think that?"
- "What changes would mean death is very close?"
- "Could anything reversible be causing this change?"
- "What should we do if they live longer than expected?"
- "What should we do if they die overnight?"
The team may explain that some causes, such as pain, bladder retention, constipation, infection or medicine effects, can sometimes be treated even when a person is dying.
When to get help now
Contact the palliative care team, GP, nurse or aged care staff if symptoms are changing quickly, the person seems distressed, or you are unsure what to do next.
Call 000 if the person has a sudden life-threatening change and was not expected to be dying, or if there is no end-of-life plan and you need emergency help. If an expected death at home is planned, follow the written instructions and contact the doctor or palliative care service when needed.
You may also want to read
- How can I tell if someone is dying?
- Is this person dying now, and what should I do?
- They've stopped eating and drinking. Are we starving or dehydrating them?
- Why are they hallucinating, picking at the sheets, trying to get out of bed or calling for dead relatives?