My mom has declined rapidly. She is eating very little and while she has been drinking liquids, today she refused what I tried to give her. She may rebound, but my guess is she is failing. She does not seem to be aware that she may be dying. She laughs and talks about the ALF activities and getting back to the “ball” exercise. When I mentioned that she will not do well if she does not eat, she looks completely puzzled. She may not feel hunger at all.
Here is my question. Do you think dementia patients are intellectually aware when they are dying? Or does the body just slowly shut down? She seems so content and happy. Perhaps that is God’s blessing if that is the case.
Perhaps she will rally and wake up tomorrow hungry and thirsty. We will see. Anything can happen with this disease, I suppose.
Thank you, my friends.
Others can scoff, that's fine, but I've read and seen too much to believe otherwise.
Your beloved mom was not scared transitioning, and is blessedly fine now with God and her family members who've already departed, on the Other Side, enjoying life with no pain, dementia or limitations of any kind.
"We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience."
-Pierre Tielhard de Chardin
As I'm sure hospice has explained to you by now that when the body starts the dying process, the digestive system is the first to shut down and forcing food or drink can be very painful for the one dying.
About 4 weeks into my husbands dying process, he woke up around 10:30 p.m. and called my name. It was at that time that he told me that he was dying, and it was shortly thereafter that he went unconscious, and remained that way until he died on Sept. 14th 2020, after not eating for 41 days and not drinking for over 25 days.
I hope and pray that if it your moms time to leave this world for the next, that it will be a much quicker process than my husband had, as that was quite horrific to witness.
And just make sure that you leave nothing left unsaid between you and your mom. God bless you.
She said she felt 'foggy' and asked me what was wrong with her.
I said "Mom, you're 92.You are winding down a long life and I am sorry you are actually feeling the decline. What's wrong with you is that you are dying. Are you OK with that? Because we kids are fine and we're going to be fine. Just let life happen and don't worry. And if Daddy comes to get you--GO with him."
Maybe I gave her the 'permission' to die. She did pass a few days after my last visit.
Believing, as I do, in a wonderful, pain free afterlife, I was not distraught over her death. I know where she is and I am fine with that. Still grieving, since this is only a few months ago--but happy she is done with this life, which, honestly? it's not so fun for someone old, sick and unable to make their bodies do what they want to do.
Peace and comfort to you.
I was with my mom until the very end. She was told by the doctors with all 5 of her children present that there was nothing more the could do (her kidneys failed).
I think it’s important that your mom accepts her demise and that you do too. Let her go being happy, you are the one that will ache when she’s gone, prepare yourself and she will prepare herself. It’s going to be a lot harder on you than you think.
just wanted to say that was a beautiful response💕
Now I have gone through hospice about 4 times with family. Each had an awareness that things were not improving. One was in denial with hope he would get better, but he also saw the downward slope. Even when each was near the end and mostly not responsive, we are told to keep talking because hearing is the last to go. They may be aware but too weak at the end to respond.
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