Father is in a nursing care facility, has moderate-severe dementia/alzheimers. He is on 3 meds (one for depression, one for dementia, one for agitation). On his (what I call) bad days he just mumbles, told my mother about signing divorce papers, or want to end it all if he had a knife. Then on the good days, he is pretty good, old stories, but no downer stuff. Just wondering if anyone else's loved ones displayed this manner.
I did remove all sharp implements and carry scissors with me if needed. I have placed her in AL and they cut up her food for her, encourage her to eat/drink. She has had a DNR order for some time now.
She suffered dehydration and a UTI recently and has lost 30lbs. in the last 6 months. Upon her return home from the hospital she exclaimed: "I almost made it this last time." Wow! After thinking long and hard about this I've decided - who are we to say when and how someone else is to leave us? I do not wish to be told I cannot go when I am ready and my quality of life is gone. Various professionals I have spoken with have told me it is not necessarily suicide but they just stop hydrating and nutritional requirements.
We are torn between our role as caregivers keeping them healthy/happy and eventually letting them go.
A heart wrenching decision always.