My mum is 88 and in a nursing home, she has multiple illness including dementia, MS, bowel cancer, hypertension, a benign brain tumour and other old age related illnesses. Because of an overlap in symptoms her dementia was only diagnosed in the last 5 years but I think she has had it longer. Mum has always been a fighter stoic and amazing.
Her deterioration has been slow but continuous but she has very quickly deteriorated in the last two weeks, her swallow is going, she can no longer feed herself, we have to tell her to swallow it’s as if she has forgotten. She has been wheelchair bound for about a year but now needs lifting and can’t stand, as if her limbs don’t work. Her skin is breaking down and she is in pain, she is seeing things and people now. Can be alert but is also distant and withdrawn. The point of this is that I am due to go on holidays in 2 weeks for 2 weeks, the nursing home agree she is frail and “failing “ but can’t advise on should I go as she has had episodes of illness and does bounce back. I have looked after her as much as I can and it would break my heart if something should happen when I am away. Anyone been through similar?