Hello, I am hoping for some advice regarding my grandmother who is in the latter stage of dementia.
Nan is 95 and is cared for at home 24/7 by two of her daughters, one of which is my mum. Nan has diabetes and is confined to her bed with very limited if any movement.
Her mood is low, understandably so since she has suffered with dementia for approximately 10 years. She does not really know us anymore, except for those closest to her and even that is slipping away.
Last week she was diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia. She is on IV antibiotics which have had little improvement. She can no longer have fluids although she is still eating and is a good weight. She has been put on thickened drinks.
We discussed with her GP a few months ago about end of life care and decided that intervention would be minimal, we are determined that she will be kept at home, as per her wishes when she was lucid, and we will do our upmost to keep her as comfortable and pain free as possible to the end. We have recently learnt that she has been put on the Gold Standard.
It has always been my mums biggest fear that nan would pass away struggling for breath, it has caused my mum so much upset and it is so hard for her that nan seems to be going down this path. Although I think we have always expected it deep down, it has knocked us sideways and we are dreading the possibility that the pneumonia will recur.
It seems to me that nan has decided now may be time, she has recently been holding her arms out asking for her parents to come and take her (to heaven) which is just heartbreaking.
We're now struggling with knowing what is best to do and we have little support (or faith in) the district nurses who make daily visits. We really need guidance. Someone close to us who has a medical background has implied that maybe another course of IV antibiotics could be attempted but after that we should maybe take a view as to whether we are actually helping nan or prolonging her suffering.
I have read on here that a suction tube/machine may be used. Is this something we should request from the GP and could use ourselves at home? Does anyone have experience of using this at home?
Also at what stage should we be requesting pain relief for nan? And what is the most effective pain relief?
Any advice would be much appreciated. We are navigating uncharted waters here and are so conscious that we have to do whatever is right for nan.
Thank you in advance and apologies for the length of this post.
Laura
Nan is 95 and is cared for at home 24/7 by two of her daughters, one of which is my mum. Nan has diabetes and is confined to her bed with very limited if any movement.
Her mood is low, understandably so since she has suffered with dementia for approximately 10 years. She does not really know us anymore, except for those closest to her and even that is slipping away.
Last week she was diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia. She is on IV antibiotics which have had little improvement. She can no longer have fluids although she is still eating and is a good weight. She has been put on thickened drinks.
We discussed with her GP a few months ago about end of life care and decided that intervention would be minimal, we are determined that she will be kept at home, as per her wishes when she was lucid, and we will do our upmost to keep her as comfortable and pain free as possible to the end. We have recently learnt that she has been put on the Gold Standard.
It has always been my mums biggest fear that nan would pass away struggling for breath, it has caused my mum so much upset and it is so hard for her that nan seems to be going down this path. Although I think we have always expected it deep down, it has knocked us sideways and we are dreading the possibility that the pneumonia will recur.
It seems to me that nan has decided now may be time, she has recently been holding her arms out asking for her parents to come and take her (to heaven) which is just heartbreaking.
We're now struggling with knowing what is best to do and we have little support (or faith in) the district nurses who make daily visits. We really need guidance. Someone close to us who has a medical background has implied that maybe another course of IV antibiotics could be attempted but after that we should maybe take a view as to whether we are actually helping nan or prolonging her suffering.
I have read on here that a suction tube/machine may be used. Is this something we should request from the GP and could use ourselves at home? Does anyone have experience of using this at home?
Also at what stage should we be requesting pain relief for nan? And what is the most effective pain relief?
Any advice would be much appreciated. We are navigating uncharted waters here and are so conscious that we have to do whatever is right for nan.
Thank you in advance and apologies for the length of this post.
Laura