Qualification: Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care Optional Units
Unit: Unit 385 Understand how to provide support when
working in end of life care
Learning outcome: 6 Understand how symptoms might be identified in end of life care
Assessment criteria: 6.4 Describe signs of approaching death
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- Signs of approaching death are indicators that an individual is likely to die within the following hours/days. They can include:
- Cheyne Stokes breathing – breathing becomes slower and may even appear to stop for a time
- Noisy breathing (death rattle) – due to mucus buildup that isn’t being cleared naturally by coughing
- Loss of consciousness – individuals may drift in and out of consciousness
- Temperature changes – hands and feet will feel colder as blood circulation slows down
- Mottled or blue-coloured skin (Peripheral Cyanosis)- particularly on the limbs
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