In hospice care, a patient with decreasing function has vital signs indicating what?

• A. These vital signs will continue to increase until death finally occurs.
• B. These vital signs are a helpful response to the slowing of other body systems.
• C. These vital signs are an expected response now but will slow down later.
• D. These vital signs may indicate an improvement in the patient's condition.

Answer: (C)

In end-of-life care, when function is declining, vital signs commonly trend downward as the body’s metabolism and circulation slow. This pattern is expected and reflects progression toward death rather than recovery. These changes aren’t a purposeful, helpful response or a sign of improvement; they are part of the dying process. The idea that vital signs would continue to rise until death is not consistent with terminal decline, where the trend is toward slower, weaker, and eventually ceasing function. So, the correct interpretation is that the observed vital signs are an expected response now, with further slowing anticipated as death approaches.