MIL is in a care home. She is on a gold framework end of life care plan put in place by her GP. She has been in hospital, come out, not regained movement in her legs and is bed ridden and incontinent. She has advanced vascular Dementia and often very confused and distressed, living an internal nightmare of having ‘lost her child’. She is unable to swallow food or take medication orally. We have been told that she has hours/days and this is the dying stage. My husband has power of attorney for health.
MIL before dementia was a very strong and proud woman. She would be appalled at her current situation and would want to be removed from it as quickly as possible. Having seen her family suffer dementia, she was clear and blunt on her wishes if in similar situation.
She is in a nursing care home, and has a ‘Respect Form’ that she should not be returned to hospital, receiving care in the home. The home and staff, however well intended, are regularly giving her liquid based nutritional shakes/additive, soup and porridge. She needs assistance to take in any fluids, sometime the shakes etc are delivered with persistence that she would not want, but is not able to communicate.
The use of the nutritional drinks is prolonging her physical ‘end of Life’ and causing her mental distress in a way she would never have ever wanted. The most dignified and respectful thing she would want is to be left for nature to take its course, whilst of course bieng hydrated (with water/juice) and loved.
Do others have experience of this. Can husband acting as attorney decline nutritional drinks and additives on her behalf?