What to do?
Briefly - mum has vasc dementia, aged 87 yrs, in a good nursing home, frequent UTI's, is fairly settled and content, v v poor memory, incontinent, likes to sleep for a lot of the day, gets up for meals in the dining room.
Recently she collapsed and was unconscious for 2 mins, ambulance called, brain scan, xray and other tests done "nothing found". There was a follow up appt at the "Rapid Assessment Syncope Clinic" where they said another test and possibly having a pacemaker fitted.
My concern is recently reading about someone who was in the terminal stages of cancer and was "fading away" with his family with him but as he faded the pacemaker kept triggering him back to life.
I don't know how to put this ..... I thought my mum would "fade away" at some point. She enjoys sleeping and maybe would not wake up. BUT if she had a pacemaker she would not be given this peace and could have a very stressful passing..
Can anyone confirm that my suppositions are correct? If so can she/we refuse a pacemaker? Last time she was ill she said "If I were a dog they would put me down" Pre-dementia she rarely went to the doctor preferring to treat herself. We have an EPA finances but not health and welfare.
Is it wrong to think "let her fade". I would hate her to be like some of the older people in the home who are totally bedbound and very frail, some contented and some not but. hanging on!!!!
Briefly - mum has vasc dementia, aged 87 yrs, in a good nursing home, frequent UTI's, is fairly settled and content, v v poor memory, incontinent, likes to sleep for a lot of the day, gets up for meals in the dining room.
Recently she collapsed and was unconscious for 2 mins, ambulance called, brain scan, xray and other tests done "nothing found". There was a follow up appt at the "Rapid Assessment Syncope Clinic" where they said another test and possibly having a pacemaker fitted.
My concern is recently reading about someone who was in the terminal stages of cancer and was "fading away" with his family with him but as he faded the pacemaker kept triggering him back to life.
I don't know how to put this ..... I thought my mum would "fade away" at some point. She enjoys sleeping and maybe would not wake up. BUT if she had a pacemaker she would not be given this peace and could have a very stressful passing..
Can anyone confirm that my suppositions are correct? If so can she/we refuse a pacemaker? Last time she was ill she said "If I were a dog they would put me down" Pre-dementia she rarely went to the doctor preferring to treat herself. We have an EPA finances but not health and welfare.
Is it wrong to think "let her fade". I would hate her to be like some of the older people in the home who are totally bedbound and very frail, some contented and some not but. hanging on!!!!