Hi all, not been on for a while - this is due to lots happening and now some sad developments
Back in september we were really close to Dad getting into the home of our choice, since then he's had two bouts of pnuemonia, and his dementia has deepened dramatically. We visitied often, and he smiled at us, but was distant and quite poorly.
Saturday last he didn't recognise us at all. was in and out of conciousness, but the hospital was optomistic. The hospital phoned me on Monday evening to say that the antibiotics weren't getting to the parts they should, and his system was rejecting intravenous input, in short he is dying and a macmillan nurse has been appointed to advise etc.
i visited the Doctor to update and get my head around it al - last week a window of opportunity opened, he was going to be well again, but it slammed shut and the vascular dementia has started to take it's toll.
A sad time - we are all devastated but of the mind that sleep will come quickly, without too much discomfort. It upsets us all to visit a "shell" sleeping and breathing shallowly, possibly not recognising us at all - all we can do is be there.
An end of a chapter - life as a child doesn't provide the skills you need to prepare for your parents' death. We'll deal with it when it happens.
I suppose my message here is to say, thanks for al the support, a real leveller Anyone reading this who is new to dementia and it's effects on them, must, must must spend as much qualiative time with their loved one, and be realisitc about the future.
I'll come back on soon, and wil offer my story as support for others
Steve
Back in september we were really close to Dad getting into the home of our choice, since then he's had two bouts of pnuemonia, and his dementia has deepened dramatically. We visitied often, and he smiled at us, but was distant and quite poorly.
Saturday last he didn't recognise us at all. was in and out of conciousness, but the hospital was optomistic. The hospital phoned me on Monday evening to say that the antibiotics weren't getting to the parts they should, and his system was rejecting intravenous input, in short he is dying and a macmillan nurse has been appointed to advise etc.
i visited the Doctor to update and get my head around it al - last week a window of opportunity opened, he was going to be well again, but it slammed shut and the vascular dementia has started to take it's toll.
A sad time - we are all devastated but of the mind that sleep will come quickly, without too much discomfort. It upsets us all to visit a "shell" sleeping and breathing shallowly, possibly not recognising us at all - all we can do is be there.
An end of a chapter - life as a child doesn't provide the skills you need to prepare for your parents' death. We'll deal with it when it happens.
I suppose my message here is to say, thanks for al the support, a real leveller Anyone reading this who is new to dementia and it's effects on them, must, must must spend as much qualiative time with their loved one, and be realisitc about the future.
I'll come back on soon, and wil offer my story as support for others
Steve