My dad has COPD and docs have said that we need to get all paperwork in order because if he ends up in hospital no telling what may happen. His lung function is at 45% and his oxygen saturation/diffusion is at 25% with chronic kidney disease at 45%. The doctor said that he has the body of a 94 year old and in the past few years I have watched him dwindle in strength. He barely walks anywhere, always riding the "ol fart carts" at the stores, he doesn't walk more than 20 feet without getting winded and his muscles are so atrophied that just to lift his foot up for me to put lotion on is a chore. He sits hunched over and I'm always telling him to sit straight as it opens the lungs up better but he has the habit of sitting that way and I cant change it.
I don't know if anyone else has dealt with COPD issues, (I'm sure a lot of you have). I understand that Hospice comes in when a patient has 6 months or less to live and wonder if this is what we should do. I have talked with dad about his health and tried to be as gentle as I can when explaining how severe his condition is. I am not afraid of death and understand that it is a normal step in life as we are not immortal but to have to explain it to someone who is so close is sometimes difficult.
I am ready and compassionate enough to know his time is limited, but I want him to have it easy without any pain or suffering and just go sweetly and quietly to his next adventure.
Any help with what I should do now? I have sisters however they live out of state and really haven't been around him for 30 years like I have so I am pretty much on my own here even though I do let them know how he is doing.