Thank you for all of you who responded to my question. Every person is different, and my mom will go when it is her time. In the meantime, I pray alot and do all I can to make her comfortable knowing that my husband with alzheimers will also one day be in her position. So, I am learning all I can as the days go on. And to all of you who might be in a similar situation, I pray for you and your loved one, also.
My 93 yo MIL has been living on >400 calories for almost 7 months. So, that in and of itself isn't a real sign of 'the end'. We thought she'd have starved by now.
She sleeps a great deal, doesn't 'do' anything. Takes non of her prescribed meds.
We fully expect her to last to Christmas and beyond.
That's a good question for hospice. I sure hope you have them on board by now, and if not call them in the morning to have them come out. My late husband who was completely bedridden the last 22 months of his life, slept anywhere from 16-20 hours the last almost year of his life. He was also under hospice care in our home those 22 months too, and when he started his dying process on Aug.5th 2020, he didn't eat for 41 days and didn't drink for over 25 days, when he finally died on Sept. 14th 2020. Hospice said that my husband had actually broke their record for going the longest without eating. Everyone's dying process is different, so again I would talk to hospice about any questions you may have.
Yes, she is under hospice care and also has a caregiver 5 days a week so I can go buy groceries and take my 80 year old husband to appts. He has alzheimers and parkinson's disease. I am very busy, but I pray alot and get through the day.
My father sleeps most of the day and most of the night. When he's 'up' he's in his lounge chair drifting in and out of little naps. He eats very little - a few bites of his dinner, maybe one bite of a sandwich at lunch and never any breakfast. He does eat lots of candy and gets a "Boost" at least once a day. The doctor told me three years ago when he started doing this he'd probably die soon. Three years later he's 102 and going strong. When my mother stopped eating and drinking she actually just stopped swallowing food, even when we were hand feeding her little bits. She wouldn't chew or swallow. She died shortly thereafter. So, I think the answer is nobody really knows how long this can go on, even the experts.
"I am a retired teacher who recently moved my 90 year old mother to our home 500+ miles from her home. Shortly after we made the decision to move her here, my husband was diagnosed with beginning alzhiemers."
Wow, you have your hands so very full... Is your Mom receiving hospice care? If not, why not?
How long someone can continue to live without eating will depend on the person. I think not drinking is what will hasten things.
"According to one study, you cannot survive without food and water for more than 8 to 21 days. Individuals on their deathbeds who utilize very little energy may only survive a few days or weeks without food or water."
She sleeps a great deal, doesn't 'do' anything. Takes non of her prescribed meds.
We fully expect her to last to Christmas and beyond.
She is in Hospice Care, at home.
My late husband who was completely bedridden the last 22 months of his life, slept anywhere from 16-20 hours the last almost year of his life.
He was also under hospice care in our home those 22 months too, and when he started his dying process on Aug.5th 2020, he didn't eat for 41 days and didn't drink for over 25 days, when he finally died on Sept. 14th 2020.
Hospice said that my husband had actually broke their record for going the longest without eating.
Everyone's dying process is different, so again I would talk to hospice about any questions you may have.
"I am a retired teacher who recently moved my 90 year old mother to our home 500+ miles from her home. Shortly after we made the decision to move her here, my husband was diagnosed with beginning alzhiemers."
Wow, you have your hands so very full... Is your Mom receiving hospice care? If not, why not?
How long someone can continue to live without eating will depend on the person. I think not drinking is what will hasten things.
"According to one study, you cannot survive without food and water for more than 8 to 21 days. Individuals on their deathbeds who utilize very little energy may only survive a few days or weeks without food or water."
Source: https://www.melodiacare.com/how-long-can-a-hospice-patient-live-without-water/#:~:text=According%20to%20one%20study%2C%20you,weeks%20without%20food%20or%20water.