My dad is 80, in hospice. His condition has worsened with rapid shallow breathing and they said he’s going to pass. Could my feeding him have caused this due to aspiration?

ander355 how are you doing?

No you did not cause this just like BarbBrooklyn said they are called Cheyney Strokes. I was with my dad when he passed away he had exactly the same type of symptoms..Be with your dad & say all you want to say to him..sometimes they will ask for permission to go hard as it is give him the reassurance its ok so he can rest in peace without suffering..my dad said to my sister" I want to go but you wont let me"my sister replied "Dad its ok you can go we will lay a path of flowers for you to tread on walk gently" He passed away the same night still gets me all teary 11 years later ..but hug & talk to him all you can so there are memories for you to cherish...thoughts & prayers are with you.

People can aspirate their own saliva and get pneumonia from that. It is the disease progress, nothing you did, that caused this situation.

Not at all! I was trying to feed my mom lemon ice a couple of hours before she died. Those short rapid breaths have nothing to do with aspiration. They are are called Cheyney Stokes breathing or something like that.

You did nothing wrong. Hospice is hard on loved ones watching the dying process--be kind to yourself and don't get lost in the "what ifs".

Ander, from what I know of aspiration, it occurs because swallowing muscles and ability have been compromised, sometimes by stroke.

It is possible that aspiration occurred because food or liquid probably was going either directly or partially into his lungs.

There's no way you could have caused this; it occurs within the throat area.

Thank you 😭

No, we have an appointed time. It was his time.

You are not the cause of this. You have comfort and care. The disease is what is killing him. Tell him you love him, hold his hand.

(((hugs))) No, you didn't cause this. It's just a horrible disease.

I don't think you giving him Ensure through a straw caused this. He was already on hospice and has other serious medical issues going on. Just stay with him while you can and tell him what you want to say to him. Tell him he's been a good dad and you love him.

I was with my mom on the last day of her life. I don't know if she could hear me or not, but I said everything I wanted to say and I was at peace when she passed. {{{Hugs}}}