Slipped right into Stage 7

clarinetist

At the beginning of October my husband lived in a memory care, could walk on his own, feed himself, and say several words, sometimes even a whole sentence. He was partially incontinent. His agitation/aggression landed him in a Geri-psych unit, and during his time there, he had aspiration pneumonia.

After that, he gradually stopped talking and walking, could no longer feed himself, became totally incontinent and lost 10 pounds. He went from stage 6 into the middle of stage 7 in one month.

After getting his behavior under control, the Geri-psych couldn’t return him to the memory care, and last Friday, he entered a nursing home. He was also accepted into hospice.

I’m feeling so sad and numb after this rapid change. Now when I visit, his eyes stay closed and his mouth open. He rarely responds to anyone and if he says anything, I can’t understand him at all. He would hate being in this condition.

tigersmom

@clarinetist , I am so sorry. My DH went to the hospital in mid-August for out-of -control agitation. He was released to memory care 3.5 weeks later, then injured himself by deliberately running into a wall after one week there. Four more days in a different hospital, and he came back to memory care a broken person. He stopped eating at hospital number one and never really started again. Exactly four weeks after he arrived at memory care, he died there. I know how hard this is to watch, and how painful it is for both of you. You have my deepest sympathy. My DH arrived at memory care in mid-stage 6 and hurtled through the last half and into mid-stage seven in what seemed like minutes. He lost 50 pounds in seven weeks. Nothing went the way I thought or hoped it was going to. I am wishing you strength for this stretch. It was harder for me than anything else.

fmb

I am so sorry that you and he are going through this. It is so hard to watch our loved ones deteriorate, knowing that they would not want to be this way yet being powerless to do anything about it. Hospice will be able to keep him fairly comfortable and help you with emotionally processing all that is happening so quickly. Now it is mostly a matter of time, waiting and waiting for the inevitable. ((Hugs))

Biggles

I am so sorry this is such an awful disease not wanted by any of us especially our partners. Slowly watching them slipping away, so slowly like an ebbing tide. I cry every day. I’ve just been to check on my loved DH and he is asleep in his office chair in our little office his head bent forward, he still likes to spend time in there perhaps pretending that he is doing something important. Again my heart melts and the tears fall. I am so sorry that you have lost communication with your DH perhaps his hearing is still registering with your voice. I send a virtual hug and I know this wonderful family of connected people are reading with sympathy and care.

AlzWife2023

Sending hugs.

Quilting brings calm

I’m so sorry.

Karen711

So rough, sending hugs too!!!

CatladyNW

My heart goes out to you. My DH passed in October three weeks after an ER stay. He stopped eating, could no longer talk. Hospice is wonderful, they will make your LO comfortable. Even though we know it is inevitable, it is a shock when it happens. Wishing you strength and comfort.

Joe C.

I am sorry you are experiencing this rapid decline. I have always seen declines after DW was sick or hospitalized.

clarinetist

Thank you all for your support and virtual hugs! This is so hard to go through, but reading your comments helps get me through.

midge333

I am sorry you are going through this. Honestly, I hope my DW has a very short stage 6 & 7. I know she would not want to live like this.

trottingalong

I cannot imagine your grief. I’m so sorry and thinking of you,

White Crane

I’m so sorry. Watching our loved ones decline is so heartbreaking. Sending hugs.

housefinch

I’m so sorry you and your loved one are suffering like this. Our PWD went from walking independently and doing several ADLs with prompting to bedridden and Stage 7 in less than a week (severe infection/hospital stay). He was discharged from hospital to nursing facility on hospice. It’s heartbreaking.

CampCarol

I am so sorry this is happening to you (and him!), I can’t yet even imagine this scenario with my DH. Sending positive thoughts your way to stay strong. We’re all here for you!

SDianeL

So sorry. I know what you’re going through. My DH declined quickly about 6 weeks before he passed August 12. Hospice will help you. The nurse told me to talk to him. I did. Praying for your strength and his peaceful passing. Hugs.