4 weeks to the day Dad was fine in his care home, he's been there almost a year, he was in the top 10% crew I'd say - he was proud of that and sometimes couldn't understand why he was being subjected to an environment that had such a wide range of people and needs.
Then he fell early one morning and broke his hip, had an operation the same day under general anaesthetic, developed mild pneumonia, lost his swallow and ability to talk and spent 2.5 weeks in hospital.
He's now back at the care home, they are doing a great job. However Wednesday afternoon it was time to administer a syringe driver. The usual apparently - morphine, anti-sickness, something to help lessen agitation and a finally something to lessen secretions in the throat to make him more comfortable.
He's stopped drinking anything since, and not opened his eyes. His smile has gone. He's almost gone.
I listened to this show on radio 4 last night that I have to share with David Schneider and Kathryn Mannix regarding end-of-life care and the process of dying. It is incredibly moving and reassuring - do please listen to it. I cannot post it here as I've only just registered.
I woke up early this morning - I'm going to travel down and see him today - it could be the last time - I hope it is the last time. Dementia and Alzheimers has been a long path for us with now a rapid decline - strangely I'm actually quite thankful for that fall. It's been an accelerant. My young children saw him just before the fall - they will remember him in a positive way, "silly Grandad" - it is time you go and see Mum - she's got that list of odd jobs for you in heaven. XX
Then he fell early one morning and broke his hip, had an operation the same day under general anaesthetic, developed mild pneumonia, lost his swallow and ability to talk and spent 2.5 weeks in hospital.
He's now back at the care home, they are doing a great job. However Wednesday afternoon it was time to administer a syringe driver. The usual apparently - morphine, anti-sickness, something to help lessen agitation and a finally something to lessen secretions in the throat to make him more comfortable.
He's stopped drinking anything since, and not opened his eyes. His smile has gone. He's almost gone.
I listened to this show on radio 4 last night that I have to share with David Schneider and Kathryn Mannix regarding end-of-life care and the process of dying. It is incredibly moving and reassuring - do please listen to it. I cannot post it here as I've only just registered.
I woke up early this morning - I'm going to travel down and see him today - it could be the last time - I hope it is the last time. Dementia and Alzheimers has been a long path for us with now a rapid decline - strangely I'm actually quite thankful for that fall. It's been an accelerant. My young children saw him just before the fall - they will remember him in a positive way, "silly Grandad" - it is time you go and see Mum - she's got that list of odd jobs for you in heaven. XX