any nurses out there - advice please

[vampire-teddy]

my father is in a nursing home.  he has dementia.  he has not wanted to eat much for some time and now refuses to eat or drink anything.  at present he is in hospital after a fall two nights ago during which his head went through a wall and he had a minor brain bleed.  he weighs 53 kgs at 5 foot 8 and is 86 years old.  he is completely emaciated.  he is currently on a drip at the hospital but when he goes back to the nursing home on monday he won't be anymore.  I am wondering how long he will survive if he doesn't eat and or drink anything.  he already has bad kidneys and a very low heart rate.  i am prepared for the evitable.  he is on a non resus order and is not to be force fed or sustained in any way.  i know he would hate it and the he wants to go as he has said so when he was still able.  he is no longer coherant and has to be heavily sedated or he gets agitated and tries to get out of bed (he can no longer support himself).  he also lashes out to anyone who tries to help him.  he was a wonderful gentle man who has been a great dad and i hate seeing him like this.

I know i should be asking the doctors and i am trying but tracking them down in the public hospital system is nigh on impossible.  if any nurses out there have any idea i would appreciate it.  i know nothing is exact but wonder how much longer he could be suffering.  

[cherry*135]

Does your Dad's retirement home have a hospital part vampire? I can't see they would be sending him back there if it doesn't ( as he isn't eating/drinking and unable to get around by himself).

[izabsmiling]

If it is a  Nursing Home with qualified nursing staff  (which is the norm) then it may happen .

[izabsmiling]

as can palliative care be given and is often given in Nursing Homes 

[cherry*135]

The home (secure unit) my Aunt was in (the one that had the fall) was for dementia patients. To live there the residents had to be physically active .. be able to walk to the dining area etc.. if they became physically unable to do that they had to move to another home more suitable for their needs. 

The home my Mum lives in has a hosptial part as well as the individual residents rooms. If my Mum wasnt able to get around physically any longer or need palliative care she could move to that part of the home (depending on if they had spare beds I suppose). Also if residents in that home with alzheimers start wandering off (out the front door, it is not secure) or get aggressive they have to move out and be placed in another home (secured).

[kengillard]

that sounds right Am3.

[izabsmiling]

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@am*3 wrote:

The home (secure unit) my Aunt was in (the one that had the fall) was for dementia patients. To live there the residents had to be physically active .. be able to walk to the dining area etc.. if they became physically unable to do that they had to move to another home more suitable for their needs. 

The home my Mum lives in has a hosptial part as well as the individual residents rooms. If my Mum wasnt able to get around physically any longer or need palliative care she could move to that part of the home (depending on if they had spare beds I suppose). Also if residents in that home with alzheimers start wandering off (out the front door, it is not secure) or get aggressive they have to move out and be placed in another home (secured).

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that's right .The two main types of residential aged care facilities are

Hostel ( low level care)

and 

Nursing Home (high level care).Some facilities can cater to ageing in place where residents can move from hostel to nursing home when need be.

Nursing Homes (high care) offer 24 hour nursing care .

[izabsmiling]

Hello Vampire Teddy , My thoughts are with you all xx

[kengillard]

Am3......why did they put your aunt into rehab?....the hospital today asked was it ok if they discharged my OH into a rehab hospital (providing he was "suitable").... is this the intermediate stage between hospital and high care?