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Lorraine12 Asked August 2019

Although they look so comfy and peacefully asleep, when a person is actively dying do we need to wake them to reposition every 2 hours?

Countrymouse Aug 2019
This is really hard, Lorraine, I'm so sorry. You have other people in the house with you, do you?

Lorraine12 Aug 2019
We reposition every 2 hours all throughout the day and night its just that when she's comfy and peaceful I HATE TO DISTURB her I still do but sometimes it does not seem fair to wake her all the time .YES she is So FRAIL it so hard to watch her slipping away ....she shows all signs of actively dyeing but I do not know the difference between it may be 24 hours or 30 days how long can it go on when they are just BARLEY eating its been at least 20 days since this no eating started ?

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cwillie Aug 2019
I was surprised that my mom was repositioned as she was actively dying but I was told ulcers can develop rapidly, I also think it was a way to connect and provide comfort and service to her in her final hours.

Countrymouse Aug 2019
You shouldn't need to wake the person, or not properly wake, at least. Be gentle and make sure your hands are warm! What is the person lying on? - is it a variable pressure air mattress? What are you using to move him or her? And what condition is the person's skin in?

If the skin is very fragile I wouldn't take any chances with it, I'd carry on with the skin integrity checks at least.

worriedinCali Aug 2019
If they are within 1-3 days of dying, probably not. We didn’t reposition MIL during her final days. But finally weeks, yes reposition them otherwise they will get bed sores which are painful!

AlvaDeer Aug 2019
If comfortable you can cut down a bit. You say actively dying. Are you expecting this within days? Because one thing you do not want to add is a bedsore if we are talking weeks. I am assuming the peace is with medication? Then put an extra sheet under, and us the sheet to assist in gentle turn with repostioning support pillows to other side. You don't need a complete turn. You just do not want same position unless death eminent within 24 hours, as you will be amazed how fast the skin of the aged can break and a necrotic sore go clean down to the bone. They are very painful initially, as well.
So gentle does it, and remember it is just getting the pressure off a little bit.
Good luck. You are wonderful to be so utterly caring in this last time. Thank you for being there and for caring.

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