Why do dying people reach upward?

Why do dying people reach upward?

I've noticed that when it gets toward the end for people (not necessarily the VERY end, but maybe the last month or so when they have started really going downhill) they will hold their arms upward once in awhile and then let them fall at their sides.

I've seen this a lot. My father-in-law did it, too. He would have his eyes closed and raise his arms in the air as if he were reaching up.

Is this some kind of strange reflex or something?

33 Answers

Specializes in Cardiac x3 years, PACU x1 year.

I would wager that "heaven" being commonly associated with 'up' has something to do with it. Lots of metabolic and chemical processes going on, a dying person's need to feel that there is something of an after life... lots of reasons. Interesting question, but I don't think anecdotal experiences (as many as there may be) prove that any such place exists.

Specializes in Utilization Management.

I think it depends on your spiritual point of view, but I've actually heard people reach and say loved ones' names who were long gone. So I think they're seeing them again and can see who's going to welcome them on the other side.

Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

Well the end of life visions are caused by the pineal gland dumping large amounts of DMT (Dimethyltryptamine) into the brain. As to content especially knowledge of the death of others and seeing said persons as a vision I can only guess. While I do not identify with organized religion, there is something spiritual going on. 

Hppy

Specializes in Med-Surg, , Home health, Education.

We had an inservice on end of life issues yesterday sponsored by Hospice and it's very common. Many of them also "talk" to deceased friends/ relatives. I've also witnessed this many times in my career.

Specializes in School Nursing.

they might see their lord and are anxious to be greeted by him

I took this world religion class, and there are universals among the major religions, like that heaven is assoc with sky, and earth with 'mother' and hell is down below. there is a good book about that, if only i could remember the name (I am info overloaded right now) and i forgot what was assoc w/ water (something was), that was true for all the major religions.

Well, I looked over Jordan and what did I see?

Comin' for to carry me home.

A band of angels comin' after me,

comin' for to carry me home.

Swing low, sweet chariot, etc.

I was working in CCU a few years back and my patient was coding. The patient was unconscious. All of a sudden this patient started to sit up and took her right arm and started to reach up toward the ceiling. It was quite an eerie feeling in that we all stopped what we were doing and looked at her. It really seemed like she was reaching out to someone. She did die. I often think about that incident.

Specializes in ICU, SDU, OR, RR, Ortho, Hospice RN.

Interesting post and I do see it many times over in my work as a Hospice Case Manager.

It quite often gives the patient comfort when they are reaching up and smiling. Speaking to loved ones who have died before them.

Now there is reaching and grabbing in an agitated state for which then it is a different ball game and they need to be treated for terminal agitation.

pattycakeRN said:
I would wager that "heaven" being commonly associated with 'up' has something to do with it. Lots of metabolic and chemical processes going on, a dying person's need to feel that there is something of an after life... lots of reasons. Interesting question, but I don't think anecdotal experiences (as many as there may be) prove that any such place exists.

Makes you think, though. What purpose would it serve, biologically speaking, to see dead relatives? And why does pretty much every patient I've worked with in hospice see someone we can't see, regardless of their culture or religious beliefs? We can explain how it works, but we can't explain the why......I'm the ultimate agnostic, and I sure wonder what all that is about........I am not easily able to explain it away as purely chemical processes. What survival purpose do such experiences serve?

The book "Final Gifts" by Maggie Callanah and Patricia Kelley talks about "Nearing Death Awareness", the process of dying. It talks about the behaviors of dying people, which frequently are misinterpreted as dementia and/or ignored.

"In the final hours, days or weeks of life, dying people often make statements or gestures that seem to make no sense."

It is a fascinating book.

Maybe people derived their ideas about heaven, religion, etc., from the behavior of the dying.

Maybe dying people aren't able to muster enough strength to move their legs, so they move their arms instead.

I like the idea that some people are comforted by their visions when they are dying.

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