End-Of-Life Care Terms

noun the state of being deprived of something or someone valuable, especially through death

• The family is still in the process of mourning their recent bereavement.
• She's been struggling to cope with the bereavement of her best friend.
• I can't believe he ghosted her right after her bereavement.
• The end of the era marked a bereavement of sorts for the company.

noun a type of breathing pattern that occurs in the final stages of life

adjective describing the breathing pattern associated with the final stages of life

• The medical team observed the patient's agonal breathing as a sign of impending respiratory failure.
• When someone is struggling to breathe, they may exhibit agonal breathing.
• I freaked out when I saw my friend gasping for air and doing that agonal breathing thing.
• The dying campfire let out one last gasp of flame, like agonal breathing before fading away.