Has anyone had a loved one refuse to die because they're afraid to go?

I was her poa but she pased on April 4 of this year although she suffered I lot and I wanted over it has been very hard without her miss her terribly never knew it would be this tough

If you are her Health POA or her conservator, and no intervention is what she wanted, you can certainly stop feeding, drinking, fluids, treatments, and even medications however I would not suggest stopping her pain medication. If you are not the HPOA or conservator and someone else is, that person will have to do this. If the proper documents are in in place and you are the nearest relative l believe the hospital will permit you to make the decision.

My mom is still holding on she hasn't been awake for three days she's being forced feed only a teaspoon or two a day she deteriorating slowly it very sad can I legally tell them to stop feeding her? In. Order for her to eat they have to scream at her and shake her then they put some food in her month see never really wakes up I don't know if she knows what's going on she would not want to be like this her wishes where very clear no intervention at all I don't think if you have to shake her and scream at her for her to swallow a little food is right I believe it's instinct. And not her wish to be force feed

As difficult as my father-in-law is, it is easy to see that he lives in fear of dying. He is scared ( as I think we all would be at some point ), but also in denial, so there are never any discussions about anything.
It is his journey and for some reason he has chosen a difficult path. It is not up to me to pave a spiritual journey for him, no matter how much I want that for him.
My own beliefs differ from some: I think he was a terrible husband to all three wives and a mostly absent father to his children....not to mention alcoholism and numerous extramarrital affairs, as well as physically abusive. He has never come to terms with this or ever apologized to his children. He denies all of this.
And someone else is always to blame.
Well, what can you do for someone who lives in fear and denial; very little. He refuses some of the meds., that would keep him comfortable, another choice.
In the end, none of this really matters. When it's our time to go, we will.

I don't know your spiritual beliefs. I've been on the Hospice road more than once with different relatives. While they have a function to perform, they are not the Alpha and Omega -meaning the beginning and the end. Without getting into the semantics of my own story, I have walked in your shoes. Keep your eyes on the Lord, pray for His will to be done in your Mom's life, and not the doctor's will - a very big difference.

If your Mom is fighting death tooth and nail, don't abandon the possibility that she's saying don't give-up on me, I have more work to do - in spite of how broken her mind and body may be -- don't ever stop believing. Death at this time, may not be the job that the Lord has for your Mom to do right now, in spite of the 10 Signs of Dying Sheets/Brochures that are so readily distributed by healthcare professionals and on the internet. His will for her life, at this time, might be to use her, to perform a miracle in her, for the witness of others to see.

From my experience, when Hospice says your loved one is afraid of letting go, its their way of getting you to let go, to get you to stop taking them to the hospital, to get you to stop running up a hospital bill on someone the medical system has mathematically calculated that the return on investment doesn't make sense any longer to sustain, that the funds would be better appropriated in a younger individual with less cost risks, and they couch this rhetoric under the broad category of dying with dignity. Watch out, many a wolf has been known to hide in sheep's clothing.

Only the Lord can say, Job well done, good and faithful servant, for it is only He that knew us before we were ever born, and the plans that He has for us.

You are a wonderful and loving daughter to have such concern for your Mom.
I remain in prayer for your peace, continued strength, and discernment during this time of turmoil.

A very good message on this subject is by Pastor Jentzen Franklin titled, The King Has One More Move; which you can find on youtube -you'll want to see the video that's 34 mins. as it has a miraculous section at the very end not seen on the shorter versions.

Praying for for and your Mom, trunner0. (((((hugs))))).

My mom is still hanging on she's not eating speaking hardly moves can't swallow yesterday as I sat holding her hand it was time to go when I tried to let go she lifted her hand and grapped mine their were tears in her eyes it was the most heartbreaking thing I've experienced

How do they know if they have dementia?

As I said in a previous post, and highly recommend, Google Anita Moorjani. Her story is so amazing and will make you or your loved one feel so much better about death and what comes next.

I've seen it many times. People do not want to live, but they don't want to die, either. It makes sense if we think of two major divisions of the brain -- that involved in more instinctual things and that involved with higher function. One might think that life has become too hard, too full of suffering, and there is no point to go on. However, the other part of the brain is only concerned with keeping life going. So a person can end up not knowing what they want to do, live or die. And dying is so final.

When people attempt or succeed at suicide, their body actually tries to stop them from killing themselves. If it is a gunshot, the hand tries to pull away at the last moment. It is almost impossible to stab oneself, because the hand pulls back at the first pain. (So people have to fall on their knives or swords.) If taking a poison, the body tries to throw it up. Life and death can wage war in the same individual. It is like creating its own purgatory.

Death is personal and final. We say a person is at peace with the idea when the body has worn down to the point where there is no longer conflict. The thinking mind says suffering is too great and the basic mind agrees that engine has too many miles on it and is ready to open the door to the other side. Only a person who is dying can know that time.

ChristinaW -- what an informative, inspirational and touching post.
I have personally not understood not just seniors but also terminally ill patients who say they do not want to live, attempt suicide and are obviously miserable, yet they will be the first person to say, "call an ambulance, give me my medication" or will accept treatments. It just makes me come to the conclusion that they spoke in anger or outright lied when they made comments that they want to die or not ive that way. The will to live is very strong in many people as has been witness at many times throughout history. I also believe in some cases that holding on is not just facing the reality of heaven/hell/no longer being around and the final act of passing on but also in some stong-willed individuals is it a way to prolong the suffering of those around them.

Perhaps her lessons are not complete? It is a mystery and not up to us.
My Mother is 95 and cannot walk, talk, or move. Her appetite is good and all other vital signs are normal. She said many times throughout her life that she was "not going anywhere." Until she could not express herself, she would react with anger if I had Joyce Meyer on the TV, or told her I was praying for her. One day last year I was taking her for a walk in her wheelchair and I thought she said she didn't want to live like this. I tried to be reassuring without being preachy, but she started yelling Shut Up! Shut Up! over and over. Seriously, it was like a bad broken record. That's when I figured maybe she had not made peace with her mortality yet. Lol.
Sometimes I think the lesson is for others as well, those taking care of the elder, the damaged relationships between other family members, etc.
This life is more complicated than we know, so patience and " what will be, will be" is the attitude I have learned to adopt. Personally, I can't wait to get to Heaven, but I'm not afraid, either:) xo

Your Mom's journey is hers and hers alone. Please do what you can to help but understand it is not your journey. She will make the decision when she's finally suffered enough. You do not have to suffer with her. I speak from true experience. Love.