Impossible question, but timeline?
Hi all - I just found this page and am grateful. My mom is on hospice at home, and we have certainly learned that the dying process seems peaceful for her but is so hard for us to watch.
Three days ago my mom on hospice declined - today is day 3.5 without food or water. She’s on morphine and Ativan and yesterday we had to start haldol because she was having these large jerking movements that were scaring her.
Yesterday she could half respond to things, she knew when they dog got on the bed and said ‘get down,’ and when we rolled her to the side she’s still responding and concerned (which has been the trend since she became bed bound at the start of hospice).
Last night, breathing out was a very scary groan and hospice advised it was likely secretions and to try to prop her up on one side - that did help. This morning breathing in is a deep snore, out is a groan sometimes but she does have light hiccups. She really has lost the ability to close her mouth as well. She’s very comfortable, not distressed.
Her urine output previously was very dark, that has ended and the brief has a mostly-clear fluid that smells horrific but it’s not in a big amount.
Yesterday hospice stated that they thought she was right on the edge of late transition to actively dying - no molting on her legs but her hands and feet are very cold even with a little heater running.
We are doing our best to be there for her, also give her space, and ensure she is comfortable with meds, chapstick, eye drops and mouth swabs.
I’m the type of person who needs to have things scheduled and the hardest part is the unknown timeline. One hospice nurse said within the week, another said it “didn’t seem like days” and I would just love you alls opinions. Her precious history was dementia, and then she suffered a stroke that was three brain bleeds.