freya 6 years ago
1 reply
My father has end stage heart failure and copd; he's 95 and I am looking after him at home; but although he had said he wanted to stay at home, I am worried that as his condition deteriorates he would be more comfortable in the hospice where emergency medication can be administered quickly. We have a Right Care in place with emergency medication here, but I am so worried that if we needed it there would be a period of time when Dad was suffering before anyone could get here. Ringing 111 seems to be a long-winded process. He is very poorly now, and sleeping a lot, but getting the weight off his bottom is becoming increasingly difficult because he prefers to sleep in his reclining chair. He is barely eating, and finds taking fluids difficult, but I understand it is so important to keep him drinking. His edema has become increasingly worse, and his legs and middle are very swollen.
He is so stoic, but I am desperate that he doesn't suffer towards the end. If anybody has any advice please do share it with me. Hospice at Home are going to be involved with Dad's care, and we have a district nurse and heart failure nurse closely involved. I don't want to move him now, but I don't want to compromise his care if he would be better in the hospice. I just hope that Dad passes in his sleep, without having to go through the end stage, or suffer more than he is now - it's awful to witness and I feel helpless that I can't relieve his conditions.
