Dad

[jaybreak]

We are putting Dad in hospice care in about a week. There are a number of reasons we're doing this, but a lot of it is due to his difficulty eating properly, which puts him at high risk of aspirational pneumonia, increasing kidney dysfunction, and his dementia and general cognitive decline. We'll be discontinuing a lot of meds and we won't hospitalize him for aggressive measures...his reaction to going and staying at the hospital range from cranky to aggressive displeasure, which is probably doing more harm than the hospitalization does good. We'll be essentially limiting to the "feel good" drugs. 

I guess I don't need to spell it out: he won't last much longer, I want to say a few more months at the most. My brother is going to fly up from Iowa this coming weekend to see him and our sisters, so I may as well do the same. He can really go at any time and I don't want really my last meeting with him to be from Mom's funeral in December.

That's all. Prayers at any time are appreciated, naturally.

[forrealone]

We are putting Dad in hospice care in about a week. There are a number of reasons we're doing this, but a lot of it is due to his difficulty eating properly, which puts him at high risk of aspirational pneumonia, increasing kidney dysfunction, and his dementia and general cognitive decline. We'll be discontinuing a lot of meds and we won't hospitalize him for aggressive measures...his reaction to going and staying at the hospital range from cranky to aggressive displeasure, which is probably doing more harm than the hospitalization does good. We'll be essentially limiting to the "feel good" drugs. 

I guess I don't need to spell it out: he won't last much longer, I want to say a few more months at the most. My brother is going to fly up from Iowa this coming weekend to see him and our sisters, so I may as well do the same. He can really go at any time and I don't want really my last meeting with him to be from Mom's funeral in December.

That's all. Prayers at any time are appreciated, naturally.

My dear Brother.  My heart goes out to you.  I know that your Dad is suffering and we all know he will be so much better off after he passes. Your decisions for his care are so compassionate and loving.  Amen to you all!

But we just can't escape the sadness that comes along with death.  Those memories that can't help but show up.  The smiles and tears that make their way onto and into our faces.  Prayers will be lifted for all of you - especially your dad.

[davew9804]

So sorry to get this news. Prayers being lifted tonight for your Dad and entire family. May God give you all peace, patience and wisdom as you say goodbye to your earthly father.

[Ed Hurst]

Sorrow upon sorrow. I'm standing with you before the Lord, Brother.

[jaybreak]

I drove up on Friday last week and was able to hang out with Dad for a bit over the weekend. He is pretty alert in the moment but is very forgetful of things that happened earlier in the day, as well as longer-term memory. My brother and I were planning on taking him out to a restaurant but it was a little too risky. He is very prone to choking and if he starts that while he is away from the hospice staff, it's not gonna end well. He does sometimes ask for things we can't allow because of that and he gets pretty cranky from it. Most of the time he is in a good mood but if he doesn't understand something he'll getting annoyed.

That's about it. We'll see how things go from here.

[forrealone]

I drove up on Friday last week and was able to hang out with Dad for a bit over the weekend. He is pretty alert in the moment but is very forgetful of things that happened earlier in the day, as well as longer-term memory. My brother and I were planning on taking him out to a restaurant but it was a little too risky. He is very prone to choking and if he starts that while he is away from the hospice staff, it's not gonna end well. He does sometimes ask for things we can't allow because of that and he gets pretty cranky from it. Most of the time he is in a good mood but if he doesn't understand something he'll getting annoyed.

That's about it. We'll see how things go from here.

I am happy for you that you were able to drive up and spend some time with him!  My Mom passed in 2010 from Alzheimer complications.  She always knew who all of us were but, just like your Dad, forgetful of previous moments and segments of her life.  I was blessed that she lived right up the street from me.

Praying for you, your family and your Dad.