A hospice nurse who has cared for numerous patients at the end of life has shared a comforting phenomenon known as 'visioning', which she says often alleviates people's fear of dying.
Julie McFadden, 39, from Los Angeles, California, works as a hospice nurse supporting adults in their final days. She explained that many of her patients experience 'visioning', where they see deceased loved ones, including family members, friends, and even pets, while remaining fully lucid.
According to McFadden, visioning typically occurs around a month before death and is not a sign of delirium or psychosis. 'It's never scary - if they're scared, it's likely they're experiencing delirium or paranoia, not visioning,' she said. 'People don't talk about it much but it's really common and more than half of people I have looked after have experienced it.'
The former ICU nurse shared her insights on TikTok, where she posts as @hospicenursejulie, aiming to educate the public about death. Her video garnered nearly 100,000 views, with many commenters sharing similar experiences. One wrote: 'My dad saw his siblings, my mom saw her sister and heard my dad, my grandma saw her son who preceded her in death. It's beautiful to witness.'
McFadden emphasised that visioning often brings comfort rather than fear. 'It's so normal to fear death and I've had several patients who have expressed their fear - but then a family member came to them and they were no longer scared,' she said. The phenomenon has helped some viewers overcome their own fear of dying, with one commenting: 'This is the number one reason I'm no longer afraid to pass... I can't wait to see them all again. It seems peaceful.'
