My father (90 with heart and kidney disease, respectively stage 2 and 3/4) recently has started talking less and less. His kidneys are the main issue, but he also suffers from hearing problems and especially depression. He eats little solid food (two little meals a day) but takes his supplement drink (ensure) without problem, getting him to drink enough is a little hard.
Over one year ago he started sleeping a lot. The doctor said that it was just normal age related and due medication and kidney issues. The little talking caught us off guard as my mother always tries to engage him in conversation several times a day. But he just gives non verbal signs or answers short. I have read on the internet that this could be a sign of death being close. My dad was never an open person and kept lots of secrets, and he has been depressed for a long time. He often lies in bed with his eyes closed but not sleeping and thinks about the past.
Is the little talking a sure sign of death or could it be related to something else?
My mother passed in 2016 at the age of 95. She was always an anti-social, paranoid and negative martyr. I discovered a few years ago that her father, who was most likely suffering from PTSD from WWI, committed suicide so he probably had issues, too. Your dad grew up in the age when depression was not recognized, talked about or treated.
You can speak with his doctor and share your concerns. But, if Dad is content ruminating over the past in bed, I’d say just leave him be. My mother was not happy unless she was unhappy and I think my grandfather was the same way. Whatever will be, will be.
My LO is on Hospice and seems to have a lot of signs, but, is still with us over a year later. It's quite the mystery. I've read quite a bit about what to expect. It seems she has many signs, but, they don't lead to death.
I've read that as one nears the end, they turn inward, reflecting on their life, their mortality, etc. They may not want to socialize or chat about their experience. I've read that it's a process and that the stages of grief that we often read about, Denial, Anger, etc. was really designed for a person who is facing their own mortality. Maybe, others here can comment on that.
The number one physical sign I saw among the people at my mom's nursing home that someone was approaching their final months was refusing to eat or consistently eating drastically less (just a mouthful here and there).
He has the same issues as your dad.
Blessings