Hospice nurses often hear one word that 'stays with them' 24 hours before people die
Hospice nurses have one of the hardest jobs in the world as they have to say goodbye to their patients on what could be a daily basis.
Talking about death is never easy and there still seems to be a taboo about it, despite it happening to each and every one of us eventually, unless you're determined to live forever like Bryan Johnson.
Anyone who knows someone who's been admitted to a hospice will understand just how heartbreaking they can be, while also appreciating the comfort with which they provide to your loved ones before they pass.
And although it's still tough for many people to talk about, there are some hospice nurses on social media who speak regularly about their experiences working in them, which can give people lucky enough to not have experienced any sort of loss an insight into what to expect in their family and friend's final moments.
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Neal K. Shah discusses topics relevant to older adults and caregivers, those caring for loved ones with dementia, cancer and serious illness on his social media channels and in his many years of experience, he's identified one word that a lot of patients will say in their final moments.
Speaking on a YouTube video, he said: "There's one word that hospice nurses hear again and again in a person's final 24 hours. And once you learn what it is, it stays with you forever.
"That word is 'mum'. Dr. Christopher Kerr studied more than 1,000 patients at Hospice Buffalo. And the person these patients called out for the most, saw the most often in their last moments, and reached towards the most was their mother.
"And I'm talking about even patients who are in their 90s. Even patients whose mothers had died more than 50 years earlier."
He even offered a potential explanation for what he thinks happens as the body begins to shut down, with other hospice nurses sharing the final movements and warning signs that might suggest someone is days away from death.
Shah added: "Here's what I think's going on as the body shuts down. The oldest and most primitive parts of the brain are often the last to fade. And the wiring for mother, the first face that you ever loved, the first voice that ever calmed you, is buried in that deep layer. So, the dying brain reaches back for the very first safe place that it ever knew.
"Here's three things family should know because sometimes nobody warns you about this. First, if your parent or loved one starts calling for their own mother in their final moments, or reaching towards someone you can't see, they aren't confused. They might be gently transitioning.
"I believe this is sacred and not something to fear. Second, don't correct them.
"Don't tell them grandma's been gone for 30 years. Just say, "I'm I'm so glad she's here with you." You're not lying, but you're actually loving them through it. And third, if you're the one at their side, you are doing the most important work that any human being can do."
Topics: Mental Health
James Moorhouse