Late stage Alzheimer's is the meanest of the mean.
Mom is now choking on her food and drink and they suggested a "cookie test" to see if she is swallowing properly or choking. ??
If she is choking when she eats and drinks then she obviously isn't swallowing properly. Next step..feeding tube. No, never. The ability to care for her own basic needs has been gone for years, now her brain has forgotten how to eat/swallow and they want to know if I want to force feed her through a tube? Let's just strip away the last iota of dignity she has.
I whisper to her "you are about done here, huh Ma?" to which there is no response, just a glaze-eyed grimace . This has been a long twelve years, she is tired and I am emotionally exhausted.
I read this quote about Alzheimer's today (from Lee Woodruff, author)
"For loved ones, it is death by a thousand nicks."
this is true. so. true.
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