Martha Jo Atkins, PhD, LPC-S
People in the field of end-of-life care often encounter instances where patients report seeing departed loved ones, encountering angelic figures, or hearing soothing music and voices as they approach death. These occurrences, known as deathbed phenomena, have been recorded as far back as the 1500s, appearing in the days, weeks, and months leading up to death. While they may sometimes be mistaken for hallucinations, understanding deathbed phenomena can offer solace to both patients and their caregivers.
In this presentation, the speaker delves into the phenomenon of deathbed experiences and offers insights from ongoing research in this area. Through sharing anecdotes from individuals nearing the end of their lives and those who have witnessed these occurrences at the bedside, she aims to shed light on this intriguing aspect of the dying process.