Has anybody done this?
My Dad is 90, he's been in a CH for 3 years and has steadily deteriorated until now he just lies on the bed, they get him up to eat, and he goes straight back to his room. He has had macular degeneration for about 10 years and it seems likely that he cannot see very much, he is very deaf, and he can no longer talk (which is why we don't know how much he can see or hear).
I went to see him today and he is coughing a lot. One of the carers said he is on antibiotics for a chest infection.
It was only after I'd left that I wondered why they are trying to cure a chest infection when he has so much else wrong with him. He's my Dad and I love him, and I don't want him to suffer, but if he were to be carried off tomorrow by a chest infection/pneumonia it would be a relief, for both of us, I think.
I do have the health and welfare POA. I don't want to sound heartless, but should I talk to someone at the care home about this? Or how do I go about it? If he were fit and healthy and living a good life I wouldn't even think about it, but I feel they are prolonging his life to no ultimate purpose.
Part of me feels bad for even thinking about it and if I'm honest I probably won't do anything about it, but if I felt strongly enough about it, is there anything I can do?
Thanks for listening
My Dad is 90, he's been in a CH for 3 years and has steadily deteriorated until now he just lies on the bed, they get him up to eat, and he goes straight back to his room. He has had macular degeneration for about 10 years and it seems likely that he cannot see very much, he is very deaf, and he can no longer talk (which is why we don't know how much he can see or hear).
I went to see him today and he is coughing a lot. One of the carers said he is on antibiotics for a chest infection.
It was only after I'd left that I wondered why they are trying to cure a chest infection when he has so much else wrong with him. He's my Dad and I love him, and I don't want him to suffer, but if he were to be carried off tomorrow by a chest infection/pneumonia it would be a relief, for both of us, I think.
I do have the health and welfare POA. I don't want to sound heartless, but should I talk to someone at the care home about this? Or how do I go about it? If he were fit and healthy and living a good life I wouldn't even think about it, but I feel they are prolonging his life to no ultimate purpose.
Part of me feels bad for even thinking about it and if I'm honest I probably won't do anything about it, but if I felt strongly enough about it, is there anything I can do?
Thanks for listening