My dear dad is 81 and has been unwell with COPD and various other illnesses (prostate cancer/shadow on his kidneys/heart dailure) for about the last 5/6 years. Over the last year it has become much worse and he has been bed bound since October 2013 (it takes him about an hour to get to the bathroom, brush his teeth/go to the loo and back to bed). My mum is his full time carer - and does the most amazing job, I am in awe of her.
Last Tuesday he woke up saying he felt so unwell - he was admitted into hospital and he was told he had an infection as his white blood cells were raised and he was given antibiotics. He came home last Friday and suddenly everything has changed. A hospital bed was delivered and he has had nurses coming in am and pm and 2 nurses from the hospice during the day. Yesterday we were told that he had been fast tracked and he will be getting visits 4x a day from the hospice nurses.
I can't bear to see him so ill, it makes me cry every time I see him which is usually every day. This must sound horrible and I don't mean to be, but does anyone know if he is close to death because i just don't know. The thought that he could be like this for weeks is too awful. He sleeps almost of the day, he can't get out of bed to the loo. He is drinking water and having small bits of food but today he said he just wanted to "go away".
I feel so desperate, I'm scared that I won't be near him when he dies in case I can't get there in time. Every day I wonder if it will be today and I find myself wishing for it all to be over.
I'd be so grateful for any advice if anyone can give me any. Thank you.