Just need to vent/ sigh - moving to palliative care

[permanentlyexhaustedpigeon]

Can't really talk to anyone about this IRL so hope it's OK to offload here.
My dad has Parkinsons with Lewy Body Dementia and has been in a specialist nursing home for the last 5 years, after a crisis when it was pretty touch and go as to whether he would survive in hospital, and from which he largely recovered in physical terms but declined a lot in cognitive terms.
He has been steadily declining in every possible way this year, from his mobility to cognition, and communication being more or less non-existent.
He was hospitalised twice this year with a 'chest infection' - I've just found out that in both cases this was down to aspirated food and increased problems swallowing rather than 'a cold' that I was told about. His GP now thinks that hospital will be of limited benefit in the future.
I've now given explicit instructions that I want his care to be treated as palliative with medication only given to control pain and not to treat infection, and that we need to let the condition take its course naturally. The GP was very supportive and I know I've done the right thing - I think - but not looking forward to telling the family what I've said.
Then there's the funding review next week...
Is it always this exhausting? I really hope I don't have to face anyone saying "it's such a shame, he's such a fighter"...
Sorry for self-centred vent!

Sorry about your dad. It's so hard to see someone we love in distress. Are you going to apply for fast track funding if he has been paying privately. The care home and gp should draw up a palliative care plan and have medication ordered for pain and agitation if they need it. The generalist palliative team nurses should also be involved in his care. Sending you and your dear dad hugs at this difficult time.

How old is he, pigeon?

Thank you so much, both of you. He's only 70 so fairly young in the scheme of things. He had plateaued for a while and it all seems very drawn out.

flowers. It’s a very tough time for you, and I hope everyone around you is supportive of the very difficult decisions you’ve had to make.

OP you have my deepest sympathies, I look after my MIL full time she lives with us and as Alzheimer’s she is also only 71.

Dementia of any kind is incredibly difficult to deal with, it’s very hard in families and also on the person suffering.

We are unable to make MIL happy anymore such is her level of anxiety and spends most of her time agitated (wants to go home, to the home that she grew up in as a child that doesn’t exist anymore) so she’s never satisfied or comforted just totally consumed with trying/wanting to get to her childhood home.

Physically my MIL is still fairly well however such is her misery with this terrible disease we will be of the same mind in terms having care as palliative. If she were easily comforted or able to have any joy or happiness I would feel differently. Since this is not the case I think it’s kinder to not prolong her suffering any longer than necessary. So as difficult as it has been to make the decision you’ve made I understand exactly why you have made it and hope that other family can understand and make their peace with it.

, Pigeon.
It's the same type of dementia Robin Williams had.
Seems like Lewy bodies hit relatively younger elders.