My father has advanced dementia and was entered into a Hospice Facility. How could the dying process begin so suddenly?

Arlen...wow that is a tough one. What about getting his doctors diagnosis. A neurologist should be able to tell what exactly is going on. The poor man how awful, some diseases are just awful. My dad was restless as well a few days before he passes and they prescribed Ativan as well. I would def get a doctors opinion and the sooner the better so you can plan forward what needs to happen next. Good luck, keep me abreast of what happens with your dad.

My father was entered into Hospice when he was diagnosed with AngioSarcoma (cancer of the blood vessels). He received chemo but has previously suffered from a stroke and also has a condition known as CMT which affects the nerves in the legs and hands. After he finished with the chemo, he began to show signs of dementia and has been declining ever since. He could barely walk and was sleeping downstairs. Every night he would have an "episode" of extreme agitation, with hallucinations and requests to go home (even though he was home). He made his way up the stairs one morning and my mother had to call a hospice nurse to help her try to get him back downstairs. They decided that he was too dangerous to keep at home with my mother and started giving him adivan and haldol to calm him down. Once he arrived at the Hospice facility, he was never the same. They have suspected that his cancer may have mestastized into his brain or lungs. I can't figure out if he his not eating and declining because of the cancer or because of these new medications. The nurses seem to think he is at the end of his life. I guess I just am looking for proof that there is something killing him, and not just suspision.

How do you know he is dying? Respite care means other than what you are thinking I believe.