What to expect…           This is the big question.  What will happen as a person approaches death?  You might think that it would vary a lot depending on their illness but it really does not.  As the end of life approaches all body systems begin to slow down and go through a somewhat predictable process regardless of what the initial illness was.  We think of it as a final common pathway.

TABLE OF CONTENTS   Introduction…………………………………......7 Hospice……………………………………..…..7 Grief………………………………………..…....8 Family Dynamics…………………………..…..10 What To Expect When Someone Is Dying….13         Weeks to Months…………………….…..14                 Nutrition…………………………......16                 Spirituality………………………......17                 Transitional Language……………..18         Days to Weeks………………………...…19         Hours to Days………………………….....20         Minutes to Hours………………………....23         After the Death……………………….…...23 Conclusion………………………………….......25