How will I know when the end is near for her?

msdaizy, you have hospice, right? Discuss this with the hospice nurse. I found the booklets hospice supplied very helpful. I read them over again on the day my husband died. I was at least a little prepared, seeing how his symptoms matched up to the final symptoms in the books.

Your mother seems to be exhibiting end-of-life symptoms, but not necessarily the very final symptoms. No one can say for certainty when someone else's life will end. But hospice is very experienced at interpreting signs and I think your best bet is to talk to the hospice nurse, in detail.

If you haven't already done so, you may want to have her evaluated for Hospice. I'm so sorry!