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Dementia & Alzheimer's
Terminal Lucidity
minmooch · 24/03/2022 20:25
Anyone have any experience of this?
My dad is 80, been in a care home for 5 years plus, end stage dementia and on palliative care since January.
He caught covid in January last year and has been bedbound since then, not been out of bed since. Cannot do anything for himself and requires full help for eating, drinking, self care etc. cannot weight bear. Can talk but hasn't known who I am for at least 3 years.
2 days ago the care home rang me and sent photos of him in a chair in the common room. He has to be hoisted from bed to wheelchair to chair and back again. 2 days prior to that I thought he was close to passing. He hasn't been able to sit unaided in bed for over a year.
The care home have moved him to a new room that is closer to the carers station. I believe this is so they can keep a closer eye on him?
I have been reading various articles and think this maybe terminal lucidity prior to a massive decline. Obviously the care home can't say anything as nothing is predictable with dementia.
Just wondering if anyone else has had any experience with this?
For the past year he has existed rather than lived and I can't bear to think this may just elongate this undignified slow death. He'd hate to be like this if he knew.
gulliblestravels · 24/03/2022 20:38
Yes, this was my father’s (82yo) trajectory exactly. The last 3 months were awful with two very bad falls (broken hip, broken neck). Could barely speak and I think had the odd moment of recognition up to the last month then just gave up. Wouldn’t eat or drink. I am so sorry.
freshcarnation · 25/03/2022 16:55
Exactly a week before mum died (end stage dementia) she had a really chatty morning. From not being able to say more than a word she suddenly told me she loved me, asked about the weather, talked about holidays. I got on the phone to everyone. FaceTimed like crazy until she fell asleep. We had two golden hours. She never spoke to me again.
MumsMetHer · 25/03/2022 17:00
My grandfather had Alzheimers for almost 30 years. For the last 15 he couldn't form words.
The day he died, he told my grandmother that he loved her.
I'm so sorry, I know this is heartbreaking. 
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