End of life nurse explains why patients experience ‘death stare’ in the moments before they die

An end of life nurse has broken down one thing that happens in the weeks leading up to someone passing away which many people don't know about.

Julie McFadden is a hospice nurse who opens up about her experience working in palliative care as well as detailing things that many experience in their final months alive.

The Los Angeles-based nurse is known on TikTok and YouTube for her sound advice to carers and family about what to expect before a loved one passes away, and this time she shared what happened when she went to visit a couple where the husband was experiencing the ‘Death Stare’ and ‘Visioning’.

According to Julie, the man had dementia and was ‘pleasantly confused’ during their time together but would frequently gaze to one particular spot in the room and smile, almost like he was seeing something or something he was happy about.

Nurse Julie explained her patient was showing signs of the 'death stare' during her visit. (YouTube/Hospice Nurse Julie)

While he would intermittently snap out of it, he would always go back and stare at a spot and smile.

Julie said that she would ‘snap’ her fingers and call out his name to break his gaze, but it never worked.

That’s when she spoke to the wife about the things she was noticing, and his wife told her something shocking.

His wife explained that her husband of 70 years had been staring into space for a week now and as he wasn’t able to keep his memory, she decided against informing him that her sister had died weeks before.

She explained that they see something they enjoy. (Getty Stock Image)

But when she mustered up the courage to let him know, he replied that he was already aware.

He told her that her sister had visited him and told him herself that she had passed.

The 'death stare' that the man had been experiencing is exactly how nurse Julie has experienced it in the past with other patients.

It’s a moment where a patient will continuously stare off and not break the stare, no matter what you try.

Coupled with his ‘visioning’ of the late sister, this meant that he was in the last few weeks of his life.

Nurse Julie explained in a previous video: “We have no idea why this happens.

“We are not claiming that they really are seeing these people. We have no idea.

“But all I can tell you as a healthcare professional, who has worked in this line of work for a very long time, it happens all the time.”