My mom is 86 years old with spinal stenosis (causing impaired mobility) and she also has depression and anxiety, for which she is on medication.
At times, she will wake up in a catatonic state which we then give her a xanax for and she recoups. Her doctor said this is because of neurological issues she also has. The REAL QUESTION I have is are some of your parents negative, saying that life is useless staying in this state/condition. etc. We've speak to a psych nurse about this and she says it is so common with elderly who are depressed. We try and keep her positive and talk to her, but I know that she was once a active woman who now is deprived of doing what she loved. She is also hard of hearing and sight is impaired due to macular degeneration.
I would say to listen to your Mom. Don't negate her feelings by pretending that doing a puzzle or two is going to make her wish to live forever. Patients often told me families would not listen to them when they said they wanted to go to their final rest, so they told their nurses. Family would come along with all this negating of their feelings, false cheeriness, and ideas on how they should proceed. Allow your Mom the dignity of what she feels. She may WELL be ready to go, indeed WISH to go.
That said, the medications may be causing some of the catatonia. It is not well understood. I took care of a woman who has been catatonic for years once on our cardiac floor. Sat staring out from her chair without expression or communication. One day I couldn't open the window (was when they still opened in hospitals) and I called my friend. It was so stuck and such thick glass that she turned and gave it a kick. At that point the window cracked in a million pieces. We stood there with our mouths open and the catatonic woman said "Don't say I did it! I didn't do it, and don't you dare say I did!".
I would speak with your Mom's doctor. He or she is the one who knows her best. What works in medication is never an exact science, and what works at one time doesn't keep working at times. I wish you the best.
I did not attempt to cheer her or doing anything but nod that I heard her.
She wanted to speak to her family, which I did encourage.
I have no idea if they will take the route of thanking her for being their Mother & accepting her decision or plead with her to continue treatment.
Caring, your Mother may not have an immediate terminal health issue like that but may have lost hope in her future in a similar way.
I suppose I would focus on today. On right now. Just hold her hand.