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zeenna2002 Asked July 16, 2023

My elderly mom with dementia got a UTI, heart attack and kidney failure. What is going to happen to her?

My elderly mom got sick. She stopped eating and was sleeping a lot. I found out that she had UTI and heart attack and kidney failure. She is now in the hospital not responding. What can I expect for her prognosis?

southernwave Jul 17, 2023
What has her care providers told you? When you say not responding, do you mean she is in a coma or she is not responding to treatment but is alert?

JoAnn29 Jul 17, 2023
In your January question Mom is 97. Her body maybe shutting down. Your Mom has a lot going on medically. The UTI can be dealt with. The heart and kidneys not so much at Moms age. Our bodies are really not meant to go this long.

You need to have a doctor be honest with you. Should you bring Hospice in. Hospice means that any life extending medications will be stopped. Her diabetes meds will continue. Morphine will be given for pain and to help ease breathing. Hospice is for transitioning from life to death comfortably. No extreme measures will be used to keep Mom alive. When the body starts shutting down, not being able to swallow is the first thing. Then the digestive system shuts down. So giving food and water causes problems because the body can no longer digest.

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polarbear Jul 17, 2023
Yes, I hope posters whose loved ones have had similar issues to your mother will chime in.

You mentioned she stopped eating. Is she receiving any IV or on tube feeding?

zeenna2002 Jul 16, 2023
I was just curious if anyone had the same experience. It is interesting to know if somebody else had a similar situation.

polarbear Jul 16, 2023
That doctor that is treating her in the hospital is the one that knows best. No one here would know. We could only guess.

I am sorry you're facing this.

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