Where do they keep people in long term comas?

People in long-term comas are kept in specialized medical facilities like Long-Term Acute Care Hospitals (LTACHs), skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), or specialized rehabilitation centers, though some care can happen at home with extensive support, transitioning from intensive care units (ICUs) as their condition stabilizes. These settings provide ongoing supportive care, nutrition (like feeding tubes), respiratory support (like ventilators), infection prevention, and physical therapy to manage the patient's condition and prevent complications.

Where are long-term coma patients kept?

Long-term coma patients, often in Disorders of Consciousness (DOC), move from acute hospital care to specialized settings like Long-Term Acute Care Hospitals (LTACHs), Inpatient Rehabilitation Centers (focusing on brain injury), or Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs)/Nursing Homes, depending on medical stability and rehab needs; some also transition to home care with intensive support, while a few go to specialist assessment centers for ongoing care, with goals ranging from recovery to long-term supportive care.
 

What do hospitals do with long-term coma patients?

If someone is in a coma for a long time, they may have a tracheostomy put in to keep their airway open. This allows them to receive better mouth care (for example, toothbrushing) and means they can be moved to a long-term ward for supportive care.

What's the longest a person has been in a coma and woke up?

The longest confirmed case of someone waking from a coma is Munira Abdulla, who regained consciousness in 2019 after being in a coma for 27 years, following a car crash in the UAE in 1991, with reports of another patient, Edwarda O'Bara, spending 42 years in a diabetic coma-like state before passing away. While recovery after decades is extremely rare, these cases highlight that prolonged unconsciousness doesn't always mean a permanent loss of consciousness, though recovery is often partial. 

How long do hospitals keep people in a coma?

Hospitals keep people in a coma (induced or natural) for as long as medically necessary, ranging from hours to weeks, but often only a few days for medically induced cases to rest the brain, with recovery or transition to other states (like vegetative) happening over days, weeks, or months, depending heavily on the cause and severity of the brain injury. While many comas resolve, prolonged unresponsiveness can become a persistent vegetative state or lead to death, with some severe cases lasting years. 

What It's Like To Be In A Coma

How expensive is it to keep someone alive in a coma?

Keeping someone in a coma alive is extremely expensive, ranging from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars daily in acute care (ICU), depending on life support, with estimates varying from $1,500 for ventilation to $7,500+ per day, plus potential long-term costs of $90,000+ annually for nursing homes or home care, totaling potentially millions over time for severe traumatic brain injuries or long-term vegetative states. Costs depend heavily on the level of care (mechanical ventilation, feeding tubes, 24/7 monitoring) and location (hospital vs. long-term facility). 

What is the life expectancy of a person in a coma?

Someone can survive a coma from days to several years, though most last a few weeks, with recovery depending heavily on the cause and severity of brain injury; many eventually wake up, while others transition to a vegetative state, and some may never regain consciousness, highlighting the importance of intensive medical care for survival and managing complications. 

Can a person in a coma cry?

Yes, people in a coma or similar states (like vegetative or minimally conscious states) can sometimes cry, laugh, or make facial expressions, but these are often reflexive, automatic responses from lower brain centers, not necessarily a sign of conscious emotional understanding or voluntary action, though they can be distressing for family. While a person in a deep coma is unresponsive, these reflex-like emotional expressions can occur as the brain slowly begins to show reactions, sometimes in minimally conscious states where some awareness might be present.
 

What happened to Sarah who was in a coma for 20 years?

For 20 years Sarah lived in a minimally responsive or locked in state of consciousness receiving excellent care that kept her healthy and safe. Little did we know that after many years Sarah had a surprise for everyone.In 2004, Sarah miraculously began speaking.

Do people dream in a coma?

It's complex, but generally, people in deep comas don't dream due to lack of brain activity, but those in lighter states or medically induced comas often experience vivid, dream-like hallucinations, sometimes incorporating real-world sounds or sensations (like ice packs) into elaborate narratives, as the brain tries to process stimuli or cope, leading to confused "dreams" upon waking. 

How do they feed people in comas?

People in comas are fed through feeding tubes (enteral nutrition), delivering liquid formula directly to the stomach or small intestine, or sometimes through an IV (parenteral nutrition) if the gut isn't working, with dietitians customizing formulas for protein, carbs, and fats to maintain nutrition and hydration. Tubes can be temporary (like nasogastric) or long-term (like PEG tubes into the abdomen), providing essential nutrients that the person can't get by eating or swallowing.
 

How long is too long in ICU?

There's no set "too long" for an ICU stay, as it depends on the patient's condition, but stays over 1-2 weeks (14 days) are considered prolonged and linked to worse outcomes like physical/cognitive decline (Post-Intensive Care Syndrome - PICS) and higher mortality, with longer stays increasing risks, though some patients stay months or even over a year if necessary for complex recovery. The goal is always the shortest stay needed for stabilization, but prolonged care is sometimes essential for survival.
 

Can intubated patients hear you?

Yes, intubated patients can often hear you, even if they can't speak, as hearing is frequently the last sense to shut down, and many patients recall hearing voices or music while sedated, finding it comforting. It's best to assume they can hear and talk to them normally, explaining what's happening, holding their hand, and using calm, reassuring tones to provide connection, though effects vary with sedation levels. 

Are people in a vegetative state aware?

Most people in a vegetative state show no outward signs of awareness, appearing to operate on reflexes, but advanced brain imaging (fMRI, EEG) reveals that some possess hidden consciousness, capable of understanding and even responding to commands through thought, meaning awareness can exist without external communication, challenging traditional diagnoses and highlighting the need for detailed brain scans.
 

How long will a hospital keep someone on life support?

Hospitals can keep someone on life support for varying lengths—from days to months or even years—depending on the underlying condition and potential for recovery, with decisions often made collaboratively by medical teams, patients (via advance directives), and families when recovery seems unlikely or prolonged support isn't beneficial, as there's no set time limit, but rather a focus on meaningful recovery or quality of life. 

What state are you in when you're in a coma?

A coma is a state of prolonged unconsciousness. You may appear to be in a deep sleep, but you won't wake or respond to any stimulation – including pain. It's possible for your body to make involuntary motor responses (generalized responses) or display spontaneous breathing.

What's the longest someone was in a coma and woke up?

The longest reliably reported case of someone waking from a coma is Munira Abdulla, a UAE woman who awoke in 2018 after being in a vegetative state for 27 years following a 1991 car accident, though some unofficial claims cite longer periods like Edwarda O'Bara's 42 years in a diabetic coma. Others include Terry Wallis (19 years) and Jan Grzebski (19 years) who also awoke after long periods, demonstrating remarkable recoveries from deep unconsciousness. 

What did Sara hear that caused her death?

On hearing Isaac's answer, Sarah cries out six times, cries which correspond to the shofar sounds, and then she dies (Leviticus Rabbah 20:2). The midrash from Leviticus Rabbah focuses on the effect of Abraham's actions on Sarah. She dies from shock, from the news of what her husband was about to do to their son.

Is Sarah pregnant with JJ's baby?

Yes, Sarah finds out she's pregnant in Episode 7, thus confirming the long-running suspicions from eagle-eyed fans. Later on in the season, John B even asks JJ to be their baby's godfather (cue the tears).

Are people in comas in pain?

People in a coma are completely unresponsive. They do not move, do not react to light or sound and cannot feel pain.

What is the final stage of a coma?

A coma doesn't usually last longer than several weeks. People who are unconscious for a longer time might transition to a lasting vegetative state, known as a persistent vegetative state, or brain death.

Do people in Comas remember anything?

Yes, some people in comas remember things, but it varies greatly; some recall vivid experiences, sensations, or even conversations, while many remember nothing at all, often confusing dreams, hallucinations, or false memories with reality, or having fragmented recollections of their surroundings and care. Brain activity may occur even when unresponsive, with some patients showing awareness of requests through EEG readings, suggesting hidden consciousness.
 

Is a coma a near death experience?

NDEs can be experienced in a variety of states: coma, anaesthesia, syncope or even orgasm.

How much money does it cost to keep a coma patient alive?

Keeping someone in a coma alive is extremely expensive, ranging from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars daily in acute care (ICU), depending on life support, with estimates varying from $1,500 for ventilation to $7,500+ per day, plus potential long-term costs of $90,000+ annually for nursing homes or home care, totaling potentially millions over time for severe traumatic brain injuries or long-term vegetative states. Costs depend heavily on the level of care (mechanical ventilation, feeding tubes, 24/7 monitoring) and location (hospital vs. long-term facility). 

How are coma patients kept alive?

Coma patients are kept alive through intensive supportive care, primarily by managing breathing with ventilators, providing nutrition and fluids via feeding tubes (gastric tubes), and preventing complications like infections and bedsores through regular turning, skin care, and range-of-motion exercises, while treating the underlying cause of the coma (like brain swelling or bleeding) to stabilize the patient.