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Unconsciousness occurs when the patient does not respond to verbal or painful stimuli. It may be due to a lack of oxygen to the brain, tumor moving into the brain, changes in metabolic balance, or impending death. In a terminally ill person, unconsciousness may occur slowly over time, progress from withdrawal to a coma-like state, and last for days or weeks. It might also occur just before death.
What to look for:
- Withdrawal from activity and communication
- A lack of interest in surroundings
- Changes in mental status
- Failure to respond to stimulation
- Increasing lethargy and weakness
What to do:
- Continue to talk to and to touch the patient just as if she or he was conscious.
- When you do anything for the patient, tell step by step what you are doing.
- Turn the person every two hours.
- Use side rails.
- Massage skin with lotion.
- Place ice chips or a dropper full of water in the side of the mouth, or squeeze drops of water from a cloth into the mouth frequently.
- Keep the lips moist with lip balm.
- Use Natural Tears or normal saline in the eyes to keep them moist.
- The patient will no longer be able to swallow oral medication. A sublingual (under the tongue) form is available for some medications.
When to call hospice:
- If the person suddenly becomes unconscious or has a change in mental status
- If the person is unable to take medications
- If the person has not eaten in two days
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