u/Kindly-Atmosphere-23

Hello,
In a hospice setting (in a nursing home) how is an eye irritation treated? Yesterday one of dad’s eyes was watering and he eventually said it was itchy. He kept telling me it didn’t hurt but he’s not one to complain. He also has not opened his eyes much at all for 2 days, even when being fed. We don’t know if this is because his one eye bothers him or decline - which is showing up in other areas.
I got a quick look at his eye today and it was red inside but from the outside it appears normal. We are told to do warm compresses. Coincidentally or not his left ear has a sore on it which is being treated with triple antibiotic ointment. It’s the same side as his eye. I don’t see pus, just clear water from one eye.

Wondering what else can be done for him if tomorrow it’s still bothering him.

Pretty sure I know what the dark is under my dad’s nails. What is the safest and easiest low stress way to clean them? His skin is fragile and he’s elderly on hospice.
Do I soak first and with what? Should I ask staff for the cleansing items or is this something I should bring? I know how particular things are with skin at this age.
Not medical advice! Just hygiene

Thanks

My elderly dad is in late stage Lewy body dementia. We help him eat but every now and then he is able to do a few bites on his own. He’s pretty bad-just not down to the final weeks yet.

Lately it seems he forgets to open his mouth wide enough to eat. He sometimes does and sometimes doesn’t. I am also noticing a hard time using a straw. I have to help him and hold it steady as always but lately he seems to have a hard time sucking and also kinda plays with it in his mouth.

Does this sound typical?
He’s on a mechanical soft diet so the food isn’t the problem. It’s the mechanics of eating along with chewing so long.

Hi all. Sitting with my dad when the nurse noticed he has one red ear exterior only. She’s keeping an eye but didn’t really look into it.

Anyone know if this could be dementia related?

Hello all.
My dad has a wheelchair that is upgraded to the one with a high seat back and an upgraded gel cushion. One nurse told me he needs a geri chair and other nurse said no to the Geri chair and that they are less comfortable.

What is your opinion? Dad is 84, confined to chair, Lewy body, current chair hurts his back (but could be disease etc and not chair).

The other issue is the current chair does have a Velcro head rest but it just doesn’t seem to be ergonomically fitting so I end up rolling up a soft blanket to fill in the gap at his neck.

He always wiggles down in his chair which may be another cause for pain but it’s what he does so I always thought it felt better.

Any thoughts?

I really admire and appreciate my dad’s nursing home cnas. Yes I do love some more than others but I know how hard the job must be and it takes someone with a lot of patience.

I let them do their job without interfering and I am also super helpful by sitting with my dad every day for four hours and helping him eat and drink and watching him while in bed rest.

I tell them every day thank you and I just hope they know how much I appreciate them. I hope they don’t think I’m there to analyze care. I’m there because he’s the best dad ever and on hospice. When im not with him I feel so anxious and feel bad he’s alone.

Aside from bringing food and other gifts how do I show appreciation?

Hello-
My dad has been on hospice a long time with Lewy body dementia. He’s in a nursing home. Oftentimes I bring him hamburgers etc and cut up so he can eat. He has a hard time with fork but still feeds himself. I can’t ask for finger foods as I’m not his POA and I’ve tried already. I am with him every day for lunch to assist. So he usually eats what is provided but sometimes it’s really bad or hard to eat. Today it’s spaghetti and that’s really hard for him to eat. We want him to eat on his own when he wants.

I want to have somewhat nutritious foods to bring that are easy to pick up. I already bring him nuts, bananas, tator tots, onion rings. Not all is healthy but it doesn’t matter at this point.

What can I bring?! It’s hard to reheat a lot that doesn’t get gross when microwaves.

I have no idea why they serve penne pasta or spaghetti. A lot of the residents have a hard time!

I thought about bringing cheese and meats cut up but it’s not easy to keep meat fresh.

Are there any premade meals at the grocery stores that stay fresh a while?

I don’t know who to ask! My dad is in a skilled nursing faculty and on hospice for 8 months. He cannot do anything for himself except sometimes feed himself. Sometimes when I get to his room he is in bed with just a pull up on and no pants. He lives in a private room. His morning routine is they put him back to bed after breakfast so he can stay off his bottom. Then he’s up around 11:15 and they put pants on then. Most of the time he’s in pants. I feel like it’s undignified to leave him in pull-ups only. Today when I got there he was half out of bed and he told me he wanted pants. I am not part of his care team but if this sounds wrong to you all then I’ll definitely speak up. I get that it’s easier to not dress him but seems weird. He still goes to dining ate for all meals and not at the phase of dying

Hello. I keep reading conflicting things online and from our hospice nurse.

How long can terminal agitation last before dying?
I am told by our nurse that terminal agitation is in the active dying phase at the very very end. She said my dad is fidgeting (getting out of bed, pulling things etc) due to progression and pain and it is not terminal agitation.

He is elderly with Lewy body. He’s been on hospice for 8 months

Elderly dad suffering from dementia is now on scheduled Ativan and morphine not just PRN morphine. A lot different this week but up in wheel chair but just more distant. Still eating for the most part.

Fidgeting, getting out of bed, etc. is even worse than before.

When does terminal agitation start- can it start months before death ?

This morning I went to sit with my dad at his nursing home for breakfast. He’s elderly and on hospice. I don’t usually come for breakfast but always for lunch. Today his wife will be at lunch so I decided it felt right to stop by early to see him. I got there before breakfast was served. It’s just about 7 residents at his pod and table. He wanted coffee so I have him a small half cup which he drank. Breakfast was served and he did not try to eat on his own so CNA said I may need to help him. So I did and he said no and pushed plate away. We tried one more time and he clearly did not want to eat. So I offered him his favorite donut and he said no. We know it’s not the food served at this point. Nurse gave him meds in case he was in pain.

It was almost as if he was rebelling by not eating. He almost always eats. Dad and I are very close and he enjoys my visits. When they put him to bed after breakfast I asked if he wanted me to stick around and he said yes.

I don’t know if I triggered this behavior. He seemed off when I first got there. Do you think it was me being there that wasn’t routine and it upset him?

I have a once feral cat that is now my buddy. He has been eating Purina dry natural and a a fee other by Purina. He was eating Friskies pate with it. I would mix in 1/4 a can of but it gets to where he won’t eat the rest of the can even when i warm it for him. He also loves the squeeze treats and gets one a day.

I want him to get more water or wet food. Any tips? Is the squeeze treat helping since it’s wet?

What about those little cans of fancy feast? Or should I try the shredded food again? Last time I tried shredded he said no.

How many CNAs per residents in a long term care facility where it’s all dementia patients in the area?

When a resident in long term care on hospice falls out of his bed onto the mat I am told by this group it gets documented. Would the nurses who care for him all be made aware?

Just asking because the nurse on duty today at facility did not know about the fall. I don’t know why she would not know since it seems it would fall into the care category.

I guess I don’t understand how it works. He has 3 nurses who rotate at the facility and the one hospice nurse who comes weekly.

When you have a person who can’t walk on their own or use their call button (dementia)- during the day, how often are you to poke your head in and make sure they are ok?
This is a resident that has fallen out of bed in the past. He tries to get out on his own but he’s elderly and way too weak.

He has to be in bed after breakfast til 11 to rest his bum.

Today I went to my dad’s nursing home where he’s on hospice. It was 10:30 am and I found him on the floor. Thank God he has a thick cushion to fall on but he’s 84 and frail so it is still dangerous. I immediately got the nurse and he and a CNA come in very non chalant saying that’s what we have the cushion. They checked him out but not by X-rays or anything and got him in his wheelchair.

I spoke to the nurse and this has happened twice in 3 weeks. They put him to bed after breakfast until about 11 to stay off his bum.

I am sure they don’t check him often enough- obviously. My dad can’t move easily and he had both socks off, the foot cushions off, body pillow on floor. He could not have gotten out of bed within minutes.

I believe this has to be documented right? Even though no injury? This is why I feel like I have to be there early every day.

My dad could use a pillow for his neck in his wheelchair. He won’t really relax and lean back but when I’ve placed a throw blanket all mushed up to conform to him he seems to relax. Feather pillows I’ve tried and I guess too heavy and the other pillow def don’t work. Any suggestions? Doesn’t have to be anything traditional. Just something to conform to him. Thanks

Today 2 nurses from the hospice team came to reevaluate my dad. He’s been on hospice about 6 months. What exactly does this involve and how often do they evaluate?

He has Lewy Body dementia.

My dad is at the end stage of Lewy Body but not to the point he’s down to days. He is still eating 1/2 meals but can’t find the words and can’t do anything for himself except hold a fork. He is in a wheelchair and he’s been on hospice for about 8 months.

Do you think he realizes he is dying? Or is he still in La La land confused?

Occasionally he says true things from our past and occasionally since I know him so well I can understand what he’s saying even when he’s using the totally wrong words.

My fear is he is going through life now knowing it’s nearing the end. I am so sad and I have been this way for a year

Hi,
I’m not sure where to ask this so asking here because everyone has always been so sweet and helpful.

I am not part of my dad’s care team so I feel like I can’t ask nursing home nurses.

Dad is 84 and confined to wheelchair and has later stage Lewy body dementia. Bad enough he cannot communicate very well and needs help with all things.

The past couple of weeks I am seeing him wincing and trying to move around in chair. He says bottom pain and or back pain. He’s on scheduled anxiety meds but pain meds aren’t as needed. Since he doesn’t admit pain unless we ask and even then he denies it, I feel awful for him. I’m there every day mid morning though so I am able to help him get it when he needs it.

Anyway- can someone explain what typically causes this pain on bottom and back other than the fact he is unable to move around? He spends time in bed and in chair to help ease pain and we have a new chair with special seat. So is the pain also from his body shutting down/dying also?

He is not one to ever complain or take meds so we know he hurts when he actually tells us.

I don’t think he’s being adjusted enough while up in his chair. Is there a guideline for having cnas adjust him every hour or what? Because if so they don’t. I would but I am not strong enough and I would not feel comfortable anyway.