
She's mostly skin and bones, she has dementia and recently hallucinations sometimes. She's wheelchair only because of several fall fractured her hip and reinjured it a few months ago and fell out of her chair this past Sunday.
My question is this... the past week or so I noticed she's sleeping a lot and is very weak, very confused and I could hardly make out her words ( I go over now everyday). Last night she was complaing her hands were very cold, so I covered her with more blankets... her hands look molted blue. TODAY when I arrived she was up in her wheelchair and very talkative, somethings made sense, others didn't, but I was surprised to see her so alert then she began complaing about her hands again. I pulled her hands out from under her armpits (she had them crossed and there to keep them warm) and was shocked to see her fingertips are just about black!
Is this normal? Does this mean she's shutting down? Even though she was much more communitive today than past several? She had a long wonderful life, I just don't want her to be cold or in pain. I pray she goes in her sleep. Is there anything I can do? I put some footies on her hands, she said 'still cold'.
I wonder if gloves would help?
So just enjoy whatever time you may have left with her and leave nothing left unsaid.
My MIL's LTC facility transitioned her to hospice and within a week we got a call (while in church) that we should get over there. Within 30 mintues she passed peacefully -- and she wasn't even on morphine or Ativan or anything. The prior week she was still her "usual" self, only weaker.
I wish you peace in your heart on this final part of your Mom's journey.
We had 11 days with dad on hospice. Jimmy Carter lasted about 18 months. Dad had a sp02 in the 90 percentile range three days before he died. There was no mottling. The only potential sign of decline was that his agitation abated. It could have been his dying, or it could have been seroquel.
This is where Hospice can be a great help to you. Please as to speak with their social worker and their clergy to help you during this tough transition. My heart goes out to you.