My uncle (99) with dementia has not spoken for 5 years and 3 episodes of aspirational pneumonia treated in hospital. I am being told he will shut down. Any details to help me understand?
He is in the late stages of dementia, and is not swallowing properly. So his saliva gets into the lungs and that leads to pneumonia. Food will do the same. Just make sure he is comfortable, has pain meds if he needs them. At the end, the body cannot process food; it is more comfortable not eating.
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