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?

[Jo Dirt]

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.

I agree. In the (anecdotal) examples I am thinking of, there were no cries to Aunt Beulah or God or anyone else. A lot of times, these people are nonresponsive or appear to be in their own little world. Not everyone who is a nonbeliever has a death bed conversion, yet this behavior is similar among many dying people I have been around whether they believe or not.

Funny, though, the most religious woman I have ever seen died recently in the nursing home. She did not, in fact, exhibit this behavior. She did not have any death bed visions. She was not hysterical with fear but right up until she lost consciousness she did not want to be alone and would tell us she did not want to die. She died quietly and uneventfully with no hint of seeing anything on the other side.

I don't think Carl Sagan had all the answers to life but I agree with something he said: better to know the hard truth than a comforting fantasy. I don't know why a lot of them raise their arms, but I have pretty much ruled out any spiritual reasons. It's just not something you can measure and verify. I'm not trying to rain on anyone's parade but the more charlatans I see the more cynical I get and I've yet to see any credible, concrete proof of an after life.

But that is another topic.

Thank you for the replies, though. I appreciate the time people are taking to give their insight.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

It is okay to be a nonbeliever, but it is also okay to be a believer. I don't think anyone was really trying to offer proof as much as just their own point of view. For those with faith, that is all the proof they need, and for those who are not inclined toward religiousness or spirituality, all the proof in the world won't induce faith in any case, as I doubt it would be recognized. What is a comforting fantasy to some is concrete evidence to another. :)

[Atheos]

FLArn said:

Just because we don't believe in something doesn't mean it's not real or true.

Believing something doesn't make it real either. Point in case... The Son of Sam... Was Sam the dog real? Please....

[MAISY, RN-ER, BSN, RN]

When FIL was dying-he kept talking about a friend from his youth and married life. Would say that he talked to him on the phone....FIL passed on the same day of his friends death. He also kept trying to get up TO GO-when asked where? He'd just say it was time to go! In addition, he too exhibited that arms raising/head raising behavior. REACHING FOR PARADISE? I don't know, I'd like to think so.

Maisy

[Spritenurse1210, BSN, RN]

It depends on their spiritual beliefs. The best way I can figure it's like a young child reaching up to their father to be picked up.

[BlueRidgeHomeRN]

pattycakern said:

interesting question, but I don't think anecdotal experiences (as many as there may be) prove that any such place exists.

By definition, existance in another dimension cannot be proved or disproved by the scientific method in this dimension.

Carl Sagan can have his hard truth, I have my own hard truth.

[lupin]

I saw the raising arms thing and calling out for dead (or absent) family members quite a lot in LTC and NH. My own grandmother who was A& Ox3 right up until she passed, woke up at one point asking for her grandfather, who had been dead for decades. It scared me at the time because I knew that meant the end was near but now it comforts me to think that she saw a loved one who came to help her cross over.

I have also seen those passing over become extremely frightened at the end and start asking "not to go there" wherever "there" is. I don't see much of this now in the ER, usually they come tubed and in the middle of compressions or DOA or with a rhythm (and then over to ICU). I don't really miss seeing death bed scenes like LTC.

I find as far as believing goes, it hurts nothing to believe in something above, so why argue about it? You believe in what you believe, I'll do the same and solemnly swear not to appear on anyone's doorstep ready to convert people. I'm not that good at convincing people anyway.

[BlueRidgeHomeRN]

motorcycle mama said:

that's pascal's wager and nothing wrong with it at all.

Whoa... I love folks who have read a lot!!

Hey--I spent 18 years in catholic education, and couldn't get out of college (with my first degree) without 2 semesters each of theology and philosophy, plus formal logic..[if p, then q stuff]

I may be way off base, but what I sense insofar as those who feel annoyed on either side is:

Agnostics/atheists....."wish they'd act like educated folks and stop with the fairy tales"..

Theists..."if I don't help these folks they're gonna have a horrible life and then go to hell"

Besides, who likes to contemplate the notion that their entire world view may be a fraud.........so let's speak our truths without preaching either way.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Stanley-RN2B said:

No one answered my question. Why are schizophrenic visions biological but death visions spiritual? Where is the sense in that?

The point of the book "Final Gifts" is that "medicine" and family members ignore or write off as a dementia, a dying patient's last gestures or words. And we should be paying attention - caring for them. Not ignoring them. Whether you believe or not.

That is compassion.

steph

[Katie82, RN]

My co-workers and I were discussing this issue last week. One of them had a near-death experience several years ago where she was comatose and barely hanging on for several days. She swears that several of her deceased relatives were in the room with her telling her they would be happy to "have her home". She said her mother finally appeared in the room and announced that it was not her time. She thinks she woke up shortly after. I don't know what to make of these kinds of stories, but my friend is not normally a spiritual person. But when she tells the story, she gets tears in her eyes. I believe her, because I have heard dying patients talk to their dead loved ones. And they all seem to reach out, or up.

[leslie :-D]

yep, re angie's and blue's posts.

they really do see loved ones who have passed.

it's also heartwarming to listen to them have a seemingly, one-sided conversation...

leslie

[Keepstanding, ASN, RN]

vito andolini said:

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.

too cute vito !!