My Mum has Type 1 diabetes and insulin dependent and is in the severe stage of mixed dementia of Alzheimer’s and Vascular Dementia. On Friday Night after being very sleepy for the previous 4 days, and not eating or drinking much, we got a call from the nursing home that she was unresponsive she was blue lighted to the Hospital where she is now. The nursing home were treating her for a water infection, and she had a high temperature which the doctor has prescribed oral antibiotics 4 hours earlier
When I got to the hospital with Dad, she didn't look like my Mum and after examination we were ushered into a family room to discuss possible outcomes and options. We were told that with Mum as she was then, it could go one way or the other. Mum is now nil by mouth and is connected to drips, for antibiotics and insulin as well as fluids. They are concerned about her swallowing so have referred her for a SALT assessment. Mum could hardly open her eyes could not communicate and could not lift her hand. The CT scan showed no recent stroke. The nurses feel that she may have to go on pureed food and fortified fluids. She is bed bound and doubly incontinent. After we visited the hospital Saturday morning our hospital closed visiting for visitors so now I only have telephone contact and even she is discharged back to the nursing home they are in lock down for visitors, so it could be potentially months before I see her, though I question that how I saw her on Friday evening.
Mum’s skin seems to be pinky and shiny and I have never seen her like this. She has a mucus build up around her mouth and I kept her mouth moist with a sponge.
As we have been warned it could go one way or the other, I still feel in denial of this being the start of end of life.
The worse thing is we can’t visit due to the coronavirus either in hospital or in the nursing home, though was told if they say it is end of life, they will make concessions to allow visiting.
When I got to the hospital with Dad, she didn't look like my Mum and after examination we were ushered into a family room to discuss possible outcomes and options. We were told that with Mum as she was then, it could go one way or the other. Mum is now nil by mouth and is connected to drips, for antibiotics and insulin as well as fluids. They are concerned about her swallowing so have referred her for a SALT assessment. Mum could hardly open her eyes could not communicate and could not lift her hand. The CT scan showed no recent stroke. The nurses feel that she may have to go on pureed food and fortified fluids. She is bed bound and doubly incontinent. After we visited the hospital Saturday morning our hospital closed visiting for visitors so now I only have telephone contact and even she is discharged back to the nursing home they are in lock down for visitors, so it could be potentially months before I see her, though I question that how I saw her on Friday evening.
Mum’s skin seems to be pinky and shiny and I have never seen her like this. She has a mucus build up around her mouth and I kept her mouth moist with a sponge.
As we have been warned it could go one way or the other, I still feel in denial of this being the start of end of life.
The worse thing is we can’t visit due to the coronavirus either in hospital or in the nursing home, though was told if they say it is end of life, they will make concessions to allow visiting.