We had been trying to assist my husband's father in caring for his wife with Alzheimer's. We had hired an Aging Care Specialist which we thought was very helpful but FIL doesn't want to work with her anymore. Their local children did start to come over and provide respite care which made my FIL happy.
She's had a cough for months, which they thought was just a cold. She's had extreme fatigue. She began falling. She put on about ten pounds in six weeks and her legs and feet swelled so much they had to buy her new shoes. The swelling finally made it so that she couldn't walk anymore and they took her to the hospital.
The hospital said her oxygen levels were low but, otherwise, they are not treating her at all. They are just observing her and arranging for her to go to a nursing home until she is able to walk again.
I am getting information third hand but my own father had all these symptoms and he had congestive heart failure which was treated with medication. Would the hospital decide not to treat someone all by themselves? Apparently, she is getting nothing but the oxygen and waiting for a bed to open up somewhere.
Does anyone else think this means that she's nearing the end of this journey? Frankly, if it did, I'd be happy for her. The heart failure eventually did take my dad and it was a peaceful, painless way to go.
The best nursing home in the area (that would be easily reached by FIL) has an open Medicaid bed! They will not discharge her until he agrees to and sets up 24/7 help. Hurray on all points! I'm very relieved.
I would say, if no treatment, her time is near.
If MIL is at the end of her journey, so be it. But if she’s not, she deserves to be diagnosed and treated.