ELEs are significant, subjective experiences within the dying process that occur while asleep (dreams) or awake (visions). They can happen hours, weeks or even months before a person passes and may increase in frequency as a patient approaches death. These experiences include, but are not exclusive to, seeing or interacting with deceased family members, friends, pets and religious figures, or traveling or preparing to travel.

ELEs have been documented throughout history and across various cultures and religions. When patients are asked on a daily basis whether they have experienced an ELE, up to 88% report having at least one such experience. If your loved one is experiencing ELEs, you may find comfort in knowing that they are not alone.

As people approach death, there can be a dramatic increase in reported ELEs. The themes may change as well, with increased reporting of ELEs featuring deceased loved ones. Interestingly, seeing deceased loved ones is associated most with comfort. Therefore, as patients approach death, they are often comforted and make sense of ELEs as reunion with deceased loved ones.

Our research has shown that ELEs provide comfort at the end of life and are associated with positive psychological growth (posttraumatic growth). The therapeutic impact of these experiences also extends to the bereaved. Specifically, the more comforting the dreams are to the dying person, the better the overall bereavement experience may be for the loved ones left behind.

When going through the dying process, a person often experiences changes in cognition and/or level of alertness. However, states of confusion such as delirium are distinct from ELEs. Patients suffering from delirium are, by definition, suffering with disorganized thinking and are detached and agitated. Unlike delirium, those who experience ELEs are acutely aware, cognitively intact, insightful and left with a feeling of comfort.

Of note, our research excluded those who exhibit signs of delirium/confusion, thought disorder, or cognitive impairment/dementia, though they may still have ELEs.

It is very important to validate and normalize ELEs as a common part of the dying process. Data suggests that people are afraid to share their ELEs for fear of judgment, ridicule or being viewed as losing touch with reality. Therefore, reassurance as well as a willingness to listen is critical. This can also serve as a great opportunity to deepen your connection with a dying loved one.

It is true that not all ELEs are comforting. In our research, about 15% of people have dreams that they would consider distressing. People carry trauma throughout their lives, and these experiences can be revisited through ELEs. However, distressing dreams are not without value or meaning. In fact, they may offer an opportunity to address unresolved issues, such as the need to express forgiveness.

The objective of our research is to capture the patient’s experience pre-death without making assumptions about religious, paranormal or afterlife interpretation. We believe these subjective experiences have value independent of a larger interpretation. What matters is that these dreams are meaningful to dying individuals and their loved ones, and that we respect their values and beliefs.

No — by definition, one must be dying to experience ELEs. You may however be experiencing grief dreams, which are powerful experiences that can comfort a person through the loss of their loved one.

There are a number of ways to learn more about ELEs:

• Visit the rest of our site for more resources, or review our research articles on dreams of the dying.
• Watch Dr. Christopher Kerr’s TEDx Buffalo talk, "I See Dead People: Dreams and Visions of the Dying".
• Read Death is But a Dream: Finding Hope and Meaning in the End of Life, by Dr. Christopher Kerr, Hospice & Palliative Care Buffalo CEO, now available to order on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other booksellers