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He got a lot worse but I didnt notice, he hadnt been eating properly since september. In january he started eating less and less. He was walking, he could take food from fridge and table and he did. I fed him as well. But close to march he took only a small bite and stopped taking food independantly. Then I tried forcing him to eat a week before death but it was impossible already to make him eat. I feel guilty that I learned later you have to.suggest often. But i didnt suggest often the very moment he started refusing. I thought he just stopped eating i knew he would do that before dying so I saw it as natural process but I didnt understand all details so I think he was starving maybe. I know I had to learn more but the problem is I started caregiving for him only recently as he was with another family. He died in april at home so I managed to learn a lot but not enough about his condition and what had to be done. I wanted him to die at home however I second guessed it later. But it was too late as we spent only 3 months. I regret a lot.

Not eating IS part of the dying process. If granddad was hungry, he'd have let you know, trust me.

When a person stops eating at end of life, their body begins to burn their excess body fat as fuel instead of food. This is called ketosis and there is no hunger involved. Many people choose VSED as a way to die (Voluntary Stopping Eating/Drinking) precisely because it's a painless way to go. So please don't torture yourself with guilt that you did something wrong.

My condolences on the loss of your dear grandfather.
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Reply to lealonnie1
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Next time you are caregiving an elderly person, seek advice from their primary care physician. If they don't have one, find one. You could also call hospice companies in your area and ask for an evaluation. If the elder is accepted into hospice, that is advice for you and care for them in the home. Hospice is free, paid by Medicare.

People often think, "Oh well, I'll just take Grammie and Grampy into my home and we'll all live together and I'll take care of them because I love them." Eldercare is a highly specific job, and it takes some training to do it right. Professional caregivers know what to do. Family caregivers have a steep learning curve because in most cases, they don't even know what to ask or who to ask. They have to muddle through on their own (and I know this because that's how I learned to be a family caregiver). Grammie and Grampy deserve better.

I hope you find peace, and my condolences on your loss.
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Reply to Fawnby
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Stopping eating is a natural part of the dying process. Forcing a person to eat is cruel when this is going on as the body can no longer process food. Previously your post referred to grandmother being left alone with dementia, so this has left the group here unclear on the situation of grandmother or grandfather, and what has gone on? In any case, there is nothing to feel guilt about in reference to eating. I wish you peace
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Reply to Daughterof1930
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HoneyWhisky1609 9 hours ago
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You basically posted the same concern yesterday. Did you not read the responses from your post yesterday?
Guilt is for those who did something wrong? Grief, which often gets confused with guilt is completely different, and is just the way we handle the loss of someone we love.
So if you've done nothing wrong then just continue to grieve the man you loved in whatever way you see fit, as no 2 people grieve alike.
Perhaps some grief counseling would be beneficial to you as well.
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Reply to funkygrandma59
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