My Mother is in late stage Alzheimer’s Disease, has lived in assisted living the last 5 years, and recently started hospice. My state is actively restricting visitors, but hospice says I can visit in the center when she is “actively dying”. I have not seen her for 4 1/2 months other than on my echo show device. (Like FaceTime but no button pushing by her is needed) Yesterday I got a peek at her in person for a brief minute sleeping, as I had to pick up some furniture from her room at the center. Her decline was easily apparent. I worry the isolation has affected her in many ways. They told me she had refused food that day and is sleeping much more.
As a daughter who has always been close with my mom, I just want to bring her home and be with her til the end. To hold her hand and sit with her❤️. If it’s best for her I will find a way to make it work. My question is what is best for her? I don’t want to act irrationally and make changes that make things harder for her, as I know change is hard for the elderly. But I also don’t want to abandon her at end of life which COVID Seems to be requiring. Any insights would be greatly appreciated as I navigate a difficult situation made even more so by the challenge of our time...
If you can tend to her and her needs with the help of Hospice and if bringing her home would quell any misgivings you may have then ask Hospice to arrange it for you. They can order the bed and other supplies to be there when she gets there so she could be settled in rather quickly.
If she is aware of where she is and who is caring for her a move might upset her and cause a faster decline.
If she is unaware of where she is and the people surrounding her a move may or may not effect her.
(Sounds like I stirred up muddy water for you..in other words I doubt the above made things any easier for you)
But if you can care for her at home without a lot of stress to you or the rest of the family. Possibly hire a caregiver to help out for a few hours a couple days a week. If that can be done it might help.