Published Thursday, 16 February 2012
The Paisley family are at the Ulster Hospital. (© Getty)
Dr Paisley, who is 85 years old, was admitted for treatment there on Sunday 5 February after suffering heart problems.
On Wednesday, almost two weeks after being rushed to the east Belfast hospital, he was moved into coronary care.
The move signals a downgrade in the seriousness of his condition.
Lord Bannside's family have been by bedside over the past 12 nights and have requested their privacy be respected during a "difficult" time.
Dr Paisley became Northern Ireland's First Minister when he was elected into power alongside Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness in 2007.
He stepped down from political life in 2010. Last December, he preached his final sermon after standing down as moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church.
In an interview with UTV at the time, he said of his ministry: "I would say the average of a man that has good health should do about 25-30 years, but I have doubled that so I have done very well!"
Asked whether he felt his mantle as a politician or a churchman has been the most important, Rev Paisley said he wished to be remembered as a "gospel man".
He said: "Oh by long and far the gospel man. Really the fact that I was in politics came as a result of the faith that I preached."
After retiring from both church and political life, he said he planned to write his autobiography.