Medical experts have revealed some of the key signs to look out for when a loved one is nearing the end of their life.
It can be difficult for friends and family members to support and look after someone who is terminally ill. However, noticing the signs could help to comfort a loved one and make them feel more prepared.
The signs that someone is moving closer to their death could begin several months before, The Mirror reports.
One of the things to look out for could be as simple as someone sleeping or dosing more than usual.
Medical website Web MD listed the symptoms that are most likely to occur in the months leading up to a person passing. These have been reviewed by physician Carol DerSarkissian.
Other initial signs include your loved one eating and drinking less, while they withdraw and no longer enjoy the thing that would usually give them some pleasure.
Older people are also prone to talking less, but children could be the reverse and talk a lot more.
More obvious are the signs around one to two weeks before a person passes and Web MD said a "person may feel tired and drained all the time, so much that they don't leave their bed."
Also expected is different sleeping patterns, while there is little appetite for food or even thirst for water.
Patients may also experience more pain, while there could be changes in their blood pressure, breathing and heart rate.
It is at this point, depending on the patient and the illness as well as multiple other factors, that a loved one may start experiencing confusion, or appear to be in some sort of daze. They may even experience hallucinations.
Palliative care experts insist that a family's presence is important when a person is experiencing the last few hours, days and weeks of their life.
A member of staff at Marie Curie said: "They may not respond when people talk to them or touch them. Even if someone does not respond to you, they may still be able to feel or hear you and be comforted by you being there."
People should not necessarily fret over when the right time to say goodbye is either and Marie Curie says families should "do what feels right for you".
They added: "Some people get worse more quickly than expected. So if there is something you want to say to your family member or friend, it's important to say it."
As people near their final hours, their body temperature may drop, and they may not want to eat or drink. They stop urinating and having bowel movements, and people may even be in pain.
Tell-tale signs could also be the "skin on their knees, feet, and hands turns a mottled bluish-purple" and difficulty breathing.
Marie Curie has advice on palliative care here.
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