My mom is at the end of her days on hospice care and she still recognizes us. My brother sister and I and our families all live very close so one of us is there daily to visit her. I have gone almost daily. She lights up a bit when she sees her grandchildren walk in or even her best friend. It is hard for me to describe my relationship with my mom but it was the most beautiful love story. She and I have always been so close and I am 45 years old, however just recently she doesn't want me or my dad there. She won't hold my hand and she speaks very few words but has mustered the ability to tell me to "get out" twice and she looks at me with total anger and almost detest. She is only doing this with me and my Dad. I am heart broken and its making the end even worse. I don't want this to be what I remember. My loved ones are trying to justify that it is because we are the closest and also my Dad, her partner for 56 years, that it's too painful for her to leave us so she has to pull away. I haven't found anyone else who has experienced this. I want to honor my mom's wishes but has anyone experienced this first hand? I would be so thankful to hear any feedback or advice on how to get through this.
Don't you think that makes sense?
But it can't make it much easier for you. Can you and your father perhaps think of things you can do for your mother, in the house but not in her room? Setting her breakfast tray, folding her clothes, the kind of task that you can do with loving care without intruding on her. Also, I should stay nearby anyway, in case she changes her mind.
What does the hospice team advise? They may be able to put you in touch with counsellors. Of course they are there for your mother, and they will prioritise her needs and wishes, but supporting family members is also part of the hospice role.
Go Ahead and Get Mad...at the Illness Itself: Understanding where a dying person's anger is coming from helps you realize that his anger is justified. Redirecting anger towards the illness can help the dying person cope with their feelings. It might be helpful to be angry with the dying person's true target. After all, you stand to lose something as well. Go ahead and get mad at the illness.
5.Understand Righteous Anger: A dying person may feel embarrassed, ashamed, or shocked after an emotional outburst. He may say something like, “I can’t believe I just said that. That’s not like me at all.” You might be thinking the same thing. Realizing and accepting that anger is normal and okay can help a dying person embrace and move through the anger stage of the dying process.
Talking about righteous anger together and sharing in the discovery of feelings of loss can reduce suffering.
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About 10 days before my father died, he stopped talking to me completely. We'd spoken prior, and said what needed to be said, but it always felt odd to me that he'd NEVER uttered another word to me afterward. Granted, he was pretty much out of it for several of those days, but still. I'm glad you asked this question because this article has been very helpful for me as well.
Wishing you all the best during this very difficult time. And sending you a big hug.
It wasn't! Mom's presence forced GG to be 'there and present' and she wanted to go.
One afternoon I spelled mom off for a few hours. I asked GG what she was hanging on for--she was very aware she was dying. She said "Your mother won't leave me alone!" We talked of a few things, she said when mom wasn't there, Grandpa would come and want her to 'leave with him'....and then mom would pop back in and GG felt it was 'rude' to leave her there.
I told her that next time Gpa showed up (she'd been widowed 36 years!!) to take his hand and go. I told her I would ask mom to take some breaks.
Asked mom to stay home the next day and either go to Church or just sleep in--that I'd go stay with GG. I didn't have any plans to do so--but in the few minutes between night and morning, she quietly slipped away. Mother was distraught that she'd 'died alone' but I spent a lot of time calming her and saying 'dying, for GG was a personal experience and she was NOT alone'.
After the initial grieving--mom came to understand. GG had a peaceful passing and she got it the way she wanted. She was 95, so a good, long, happy life. But, oh, how she missed her sweetheart!
I didn't know this was possible except for one friend whose mom accused her of stealing when she was dying. This friend told me that it takes time, a lot of it, to heal.
This is an excruciatingly painful experience and this forum has proven the best place for questions and concerns like these. I can't add to their advice as I'm still struggling with trying to heal, but do know YOU ARE NOT ALONE with this heart breaking issue. And THANK YOU for posting this question!
Giving you a huge hug, and some flowers, and chocolate too. And another hug...
Make it as short as she wants it.
Don't even bring up anything about her telling you to get out.
Bring her a treat, give her a hug and kiss and as soon as she tells you to get out, just smile and say you love her and you'll see her later.
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