My gran has just gone into palliative care for her Alzheimer's dementia after having the last stage for over two years. She was recently in hospital for a bout of respiratory arrest and once admitted the onsets of aspiration phuenmonia, so I realised it wasn't going to be a good outcome; even after the doctors had her on an IV to hydrated/'feed' her since she's lost the ability to swallow nor possibly re-learn it anymore.
Now she's back at the care home for palliative, I wasn't able to go to the consultation with the hospital about it, and those who were, are not going to tell me how long they estimated she had left, "She's not gone yet" they kept saying. But what they don't realise is saying that and "keep a brave face", isn't going to help me with what I'm feeling. I know by the rule of thumb it is an uncertain amount of time for someone with AD, and I realise it's selfish of me wanting to know. However for the past year now I have been having low psychological issues, and adding the anticipatory grief and chronic grief over the loss of her as a person, I haven't been in a very stable place, almost numbed if I have to describe it. I just want to know how long (estimated) I'm going to have my gran for or what is left of the woman that played a big part in raising me, even if she doesn't know who I am, and not be lied to in hopes that it will lessen my bereavement. It's doing the opposite.
If there is anyone that has gone through this before and is able to share their experience with me about the palliative care, I would greatly appreciate it. This whole step is really scared me, I don't know how to feel about it.
Now she's back at the care home for palliative, I wasn't able to go to the consultation with the hospital about it, and those who were, are not going to tell me how long they estimated she had left, "She's not gone yet" they kept saying. But what they don't realise is saying that and "keep a brave face", isn't going to help me with what I'm feeling. I know by the rule of thumb it is an uncertain amount of time for someone with AD, and I realise it's selfish of me wanting to know. However for the past year now I have been having low psychological issues, and adding the anticipatory grief and chronic grief over the loss of her as a person, I haven't been in a very stable place, almost numbed if I have to describe it. I just want to know how long (estimated) I'm going to have my gran for or what is left of the woman that played a big part in raising me, even if she doesn't know who I am, and not be lied to in hopes that it will lessen my bereavement. It's doing the opposite.
If there is anyone that has gone through this before and is able to share their experience with me about the palliative care, I would greatly appreciate it. This whole step is really scared me, I don't know how to feel about it.