Hi
My mother is 82 years old and in the advanced stages of Alzheimers. She has been placed on a puree diet as had not been able to swallow for some time now. She was recently admitted to hospital because she was severely dehydrated and placed on an IV drip for over 3 days. She started eating pureed food but we were warned to expect more of this until eventually she stopped eating altogether.
The hospital was suggesting that at this stage we could make a decision to keep her at home and watch her starve to death. I insisted that she returns to hospital as we cannot stand by and watch her simply being starved to death. I know its no better in a hospital and sorry if I annoy anyone who thinks I am a bed blocker but surely she would be entitled to some pain relief in her final days and better off in a hospital or hospice?
I am tormented by the thought of her slowly starving to death and the pain this may cause her in her final days. I have read this on the internet regards starving:
"Dr. David Stevens, the president of the Christian Medical Association, also explains the inhumane process of death by starvation and dehydration. Stevens said, “I have seen hundreds if not thousands of patients with dehydration and some of them so far gone, that despite resuscitation attempts, they died. As dehydration begins, there is extreme thirst, dry mouth and thick saliva. The patient becomes dizzy, faint and unable to stand or sit; has severe cramping in the arms and legs as the sodium and potassium concentrations in the body goes up as fluids go down. In misery, the patient tries to cry but there are no tears. The patient experiences severe abdominal cramps, nausea and dry-heaving as the stomach and intestines dry out.”
He concluded by saying that patients who die from starvation and dehydration have cracking skin and lips and their tongue swells. As mucous membranes dry out and break down, patients suffer from severe nose bleeds. Does that sound like a “peaceful way to go” as Schwarz claims?"
Any advise would be most welcome as would your experiences and suggestions.
Kind regards
Wholenutx
My mother is 82 years old and in the advanced stages of Alzheimers. She has been placed on a puree diet as had not been able to swallow for some time now. She was recently admitted to hospital because she was severely dehydrated and placed on an IV drip for over 3 days. She started eating pureed food but we were warned to expect more of this until eventually she stopped eating altogether.
The hospital was suggesting that at this stage we could make a decision to keep her at home and watch her starve to death. I insisted that she returns to hospital as we cannot stand by and watch her simply being starved to death. I know its no better in a hospital and sorry if I annoy anyone who thinks I am a bed blocker but surely she would be entitled to some pain relief in her final days and better off in a hospital or hospice?
I am tormented by the thought of her slowly starving to death and the pain this may cause her in her final days. I have read this on the internet regards starving:
"Dr. David Stevens, the president of the Christian Medical Association, also explains the inhumane process of death by starvation and dehydration. Stevens said, “I have seen hundreds if not thousands of patients with dehydration and some of them so far gone, that despite resuscitation attempts, they died. As dehydration begins, there is extreme thirst, dry mouth and thick saliva. The patient becomes dizzy, faint and unable to stand or sit; has severe cramping in the arms and legs as the sodium and potassium concentrations in the body goes up as fluids go down. In misery, the patient tries to cry but there are no tears. The patient experiences severe abdominal cramps, nausea and dry-heaving as the stomach and intestines dry out.”
He concluded by saying that patients who die from starvation and dehydration have cracking skin and lips and their tongue swells. As mucous membranes dry out and break down, patients suffer from severe nose bleeds. Does that sound like a “peaceful way to go” as Schwarz claims?"
Any advise would be most welcome as would your experiences and suggestions.
Kind regards
Wholenutx
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