I posted some questions about my elderly father (82) who developed vascular dementia. About 2 months ago, he was hospitalized after a fall and confusion. A couple weeks ago, he was hospitalized again.
He would have periods where he was completely lucid, and outraged that he had been put in a rehab facility. He would demand to be allowed to go home with his live-in girlfriend (who simply wants his money). My sister as POA was conflicted about what to do. The doctors said the condition was going to get worse, and they recommended full-time nursing.
We resisted his demands and put him into rehab and then full-time nursing.
Now he is dying from the condition, unable to swallow, breathe properly, etc. --he is completely confused and out-of-it. There are no more periods of lucidity/awareness.
It took two months to go from independence to dying. Had we let him go home, the girlfriend would have robbed him blind (probably after marrying him), and left him in a dirty bedroom to die.
Vascular Dementia is really horrible, and it isn't like Alzheimer's --it happens fast, and the patient has sudden losses of function and competence.
So I'll leave this here for anyone else who has doubts or questions about this condition.
I have read a lot online about survival rates. Most places say the average life expectancy is 4 years for Vascular dementia, but, lately I have read 5 years. The way she is now.......I can't imagine her making it another 6 months, but, I've said that before and been wrong. I just get this uneasy feeling every time the phone rings after 9:00 p.m. I was talking with the Hospice social worker today about the end, whenever that comes, and I'm not sure if I need to be in the room with her, like a vigil or not......she said that sometimes, the family member wants to remember the LO in a more positive way and not deceased, so, I'm weighing that right now. I'm not sure which is right on this.