Hi,
This is my first post although I have been reading the forum for a long time. I know no-one can tell me what to do, but I just wondered whether anyone could offer me some advice?
Dad is in hospital having broken his hip in a fall. Before the fall, he was still very mobile although he had had to go into a care home. However, since the partial hip replacement two weeks ago he hasn't left his bed. The physios have had no luck with rehabilitation. Dad has refused all food and drink for about ten days and is having artificial rehydration. He can no longer speak and drifts in and out of consciouness. A doctor has told mum it is probable that we are now reaching the end of dad's life. This has all happened so quickly - a massive deterioration since January. It is awful - he is now so thin and also has delirium. I can't bear seeing him like this, or seeing mum's distress.
My problem is that I am an only child and I live a very long way away from my parents - seven hours by train. Obviously, no one can tell us how long dad has - the doctor has mentioned a couple of weeks. I am with him and mum now but just don't know what to do. I am terrified that if I go home he will die and I also really don't want to leave mum on her own. Mum has told me to go home after the weekend - she knows I have work commitments and has said I can't stay for what could be weeks. I just don't know what to do. If he deteriorates, I can't get back quickly. I hate being so far away from them. Has anyone else been in a similar situation? If so, how did you manage?
Thank you.
This is my first post although I have been reading the forum for a long time. I know no-one can tell me what to do, but I just wondered whether anyone could offer me some advice?
Dad is in hospital having broken his hip in a fall. Before the fall, he was still very mobile although he had had to go into a care home. However, since the partial hip replacement two weeks ago he hasn't left his bed. The physios have had no luck with rehabilitation. Dad has refused all food and drink for about ten days and is having artificial rehydration. He can no longer speak and drifts in and out of consciouness. A doctor has told mum it is probable that we are now reaching the end of dad's life. This has all happened so quickly - a massive deterioration since January. It is awful - he is now so thin and also has delirium. I can't bear seeing him like this, or seeing mum's distress.
My problem is that I am an only child and I live a very long way away from my parents - seven hours by train. Obviously, no one can tell us how long dad has - the doctor has mentioned a couple of weeks. I am with him and mum now but just don't know what to do. I am terrified that if I go home he will die and I also really don't want to leave mum on her own. Mum has told me to go home after the weekend - she knows I have work commitments and has said I can't stay for what could be weeks. I just don't know what to do. If he deteriorates, I can't get back quickly. I hate being so far away from them. Has anyone else been in a similar situation? If so, how did you manage?
Thank you.