Kind and gentle reader. *sigh* I am sitting at my computer, making plans and canceling appointments and sending texts and taking the occasional break to cry. My brother and I have actively been looking for a placement for our mom as her care requirements have increased and we felt like we needed more support. After getting turned down by one spot last week, we had recently started over, but this time looking for a smaller place with more focused care. We’d narrowed it down to two homes, each with only five residents, 24/7 care, and both with an open room. 

We’d also decided it might be time to get help from hospice, (to qualify for hospice, a person is considered to have no more than six months left to live). They were so good to us and such a help when Dad was dying. Mom had lost her ability to stand or use the bathroom on her own or take a regular seated shower in the past few months, and just recently in the past few weeks, she’s been sleeping a lot more, needing help eating, can only eat soft food, is talking much less — essentially needed help with everything.

After two assessments and visits from hospice, it was determined today that she most likely only has a week or two left with us. Even though he saw her decline directly, my brother was surprised to hear she was so close, as was I. One of the homes we’d already been considering is run by the hospice company and is focused on end of life care. Mom will be moving there in the morning. We’ve been advised that we don’t need to give her any more of her regular meds and can stop feeding her unless she requests it. I knew this was coming, but that doesn’t make it any easier.

I’ll be flying to Oregon in the morning to spend her final days with her. Understandably, I don’t plan on doing any blogging in the meantime. I’m not sure when I’ll be back or how soon I’ll feel like posting. May we all have a life full of love and an easy death.

*sigh*