As I wrote in the last posting, Mom is finding it is more difficult to put thoughts together. I have been knowing this for a few months, and while I noticed this, it is something else when a medical professional tells you she noticed the same.

The nurse practitioner and I had a phone meeting to talk about my mother, and when we compared notes of how she is talking and acting, they mirrored the same thing: my mother has entered the advanced stage of dementia. The good news is she still has an appetite, though at times she does not eat all of her meals, she does eat most of her food. In the advance stage a person with dementia may stop eating, have difficulty swallowing, among other physical issues. This gives a little glimmer of hope that may push back the final stage of the disease.

However, when the doctor discusses with a family member about having DNR/DNI (do not resuscitate/do not incubate) procedures in place, I sense the end time may be near. The question is how much time is left? Only God knows…

Before that end comes, now is the time to gather important papers, get information to put in the obituary, insurance papers, etc. In the meantime, all I can do is whenever I talk to her on the phone or see her in person, I will do my best to be upbeat and be that listening ear she needs…