My husband (age 92) has been confined to a wheelchair for the last 9 months. He has no use of his legs for an unknown reason. He decided he wanted to die, and was going to stop eating and drinking. He said he was going to do this in January 2025. He also has Congestive Heart Failure and severe edema in his legs. I began preparing for this change in my life, and came to terms with what he was going to do. I don't necessarily think it is the best choice, but the choice was his. I looked into moving to a Continuing Care Community, filled out paperwork, and began getting rid of stuff here.Now he has decided not to speed up his dying, and decided that his present quality of life is OK. He is enrolled in hospice, although I don't think he really qualifies. I am his sole caregiver and am not completely happy about it. My question here is how to cope with this change in path after becoming adjusted to his first plan. I am confused and depressed. Maybe he'll change his mind again. I feel I cannot plan any future, and this weighs heavy on my mental health. Help...
He has now taken a turn for the worse, and hasn't been out of bed for 3 days. He is speaking, but I can't understand most of it. I'm scared.
With that said, the hospice nurse feels that your DH has 6 months or less to live. If he's chosen not to end his life via VSED, then so be it. If I were you, I'd hire in home help to give you respite now. Or place DH in a care facility permanently. You can visit daily but still have your own life after years of solo caregiving. You matter too. Don't forget that.
Wishing you the courage to come up with a care plan for dh now that relieves YOU of the burden.
Many do not carry through plans for VSED when it comes down to it, and many change their minds during the process.
I highly recommend The VSED Handbook by Kate Christie. It is very good with good appendix also for information, legal plans and etc.
Many many people, even after availing themselves of the Right to Die MAiD cocktail of drugs, do not use it. They are comforted to know that they CAN and may choose to, but they often see it through to the end with Hospice or Palliative care when appropriate. So know that this occurence is not at all unusual.
This is your HUSBAND'S choice. The more that you can stay out of it being anything to do with your choice the better.
The only thing that YOU can choose is whether to give care in the home or in a facility for your own good health. My best to you.
And that was taken from you.
I'm wondering if your husband home with you? If he is home with you and you are his full-time caregiver, id say it's way past time for you to get him in a facility, and for you to take better care of yourself.
I can't even imagine how hard this is.
I'm also wondering about his heart failure, can he stop taking meds for that, give him more time, but maybe a more natural death?
Best of luck, I wish I had better answers for you