Mom was transported to the hospital this morning after becoming unconscious at assisted living. The doctor believes she had a seizure. She is severly dehydrated and malnourished. The doctor says she is "failure to thrive" and that we need to set up hospice care. Even though her dementia has progressed over the past several months, she was able to tell the doctor that she didn't want a feeding tube or to be kept alive artificially. Even though she has a living will, I'm glad she was able to say that herself. The doctor says it could be weeks or months, but that we are on the final journey. I would appreciate your prayers.
I am on the same journey with my father although we're a little further down the road than you are. We hired hospice and it's been a Godsend. They're wonderful.
What happens when your mom is released from the hospital? Will she go back to assisted living? Into skilled nursing care?
That's good that she was able to verbalize what she didn't want to the Dr. but it's also good to have it in writing. My dad had all of that in writing as well but in his increasing dementia told me that he wanted to be shocked with the paddles if his heart should stop, that he wanted a breathing tube and that he wanted to be put on a ventilator. I nearly fell off my chair! But we have his wishes...his true wishes...in writing so I know none of that will happen.
Being on that road with my dad I can tell you that it is long regardless of how much time is actually left. It's just long. And sad. Some days I think I can't take another minute of this and some days it's all I can do to get to my dad and be there for him and love him as hard as I can while I can.
My prayers go out to you and your mom.
Where will hospice care be set up for her? Is there a Hospice House she can go to, or will it work to have it in ALF?
I hope you find, as I did, that this difficult part of the journey is made a little less scary by hospice.