The 101 year old mom of a dear friend has started to refuse food and liquids. She is at home on Hospice with 24/7 Home Health Care Aide. Hard to tell if this is a temporary thing or if this is the beginning of the end.
I sent my friend an email today with a list of things to think about/remember/get ready.
Let me know what you would add.
Dear M;
I hope things are better today. I have a couple of questions that I think you want to think about before things happen.
1. Is C (the Home Health Aide) certified to ADMINISTER meds--in other words, can she give your mother liquid or injected morphine or will you need to be there to do that?
2. If something untoward/emergency happens, Hospice, not 911 gets called.
3. Have a "go bag" by the door--toothbrush/toothpaste/deodorant/couple of pairs of spare underpants/tee shirt and something to sleep in. If you get stuck in Brighton Beach for a couple of days, this will tide you over until someone can get stuff to you.
4. Get a spare phone charger with a plug at the end and/or a battery pack (also with charger) to keep in the go bag.
5 Make sure you can tell folks (us) who has keys to your apartment if we need to get you stuff.
6. I hope that this is all stuff that you won't need to know, but I always find being prepared takes some of the angst out of any situation.