The Dying Process in DEMENTIA - PART 2: How to know that death is close (lived experience)

Link to Video 1:

Facebook Support Group:

Brain and Beyond on Facebook:

The Dying process in dementia – Part 2 – How to know the end is close - Lived Experience.

In part one of this video series, I spoke about the various physical responses of the dying process in dementia, and gave you some physiological signs to look for.

Less than one week after making that video, my Mum passed away and that prompted me to create Part 2 - talking about my lived experience through the death process.

In this video I will tell you about the last three days of Mum's life and what signs and symptoms might alert you to the fact that death is near.

I will also tell you about some of my experiences that were slightly different to the information in video 1 - because death is unique, just like life is.

For death is not the end of life, its part of life and who knows what wonderful adventures await our souls when we die.

In Loving Memory of Jacki Bailey (Mum)
19/2/1947 - 16/1/2021

[hayleybourgault]

Thank you for sharing this. I was with my mom when she passed, it was very sad to me because nobody wants to lose their mom. My dad passed 3 months prior. It's very sad losing your parents. ❤

[Keira_I_AM]

As I sit quietly next to my Mom's bed tonight, she is passing from dementia and heart related complications. So grateful to have had this time with her and caring for her at my home where she can be peaceful and feel loved. Thank you for sharing your personal journey so others can be comforted and find peace in the process.🙏❤ Bless you!

[josidayss]

My mother passed from aspiration pneumonia, she was diagnosed with Frontotemporal dementia. She was only 55 years old. 😞

[davidhaddon]

My Mother passed away in the same way as yours, and i too gave her my loving permission to let go and pass away and that i loved her and she would see my Dad once more, ten seconds later she did just that on the seventh day i visited her in hospital, it was heart breaking but i must now move on she was the great old age of 97, but that did not make me feel any better.

[sammie]

my Darling husband diagnosed with dementia/alzheimer....told me a few weeks ago...God told him to 'come home'....He had such beautiful smile and bright eyes. He is not afraid to see God ....I tried not to cry but grateful of His strong Faith...He is declining so quickly...sleeping a lot, eating far less, no longer can self care, incontinent...but we still pray, sing, converse to some degree, he has more hallucination and delusion...tired and really slow walking...I am still shocked by the diagnosis but in hindsight, he may have had the symptoms of the disease for over a decade...it all makes sense now, the denial, lack of logic/common sense, what seemed like lies but his brain has been dying all this time...I pray, his end time will be painless and peaceful....He is my HEART!!!!

[trith]

I'm dealing with this now with my father, he was diagnosed with FTD about 3 years ago and is about to be 80. I moved him in with me several years back and I will take care of him for as long as I can. Physically he's an ox and he's still very active and functional, cuts the yard, loves to garden, goes shopping, but each day I see a little more loss and his speech has become harder and harder to understand. he hasn't forgotten anyone yet, but names are hard for him to verbalize now. I think the thing that made it really hit home was going to his last neurology appointment and seeing how bad he did on the cognitive tests first hand. Also I heard him a few days back walking through the living room calling for his mother and father. I know it will be hard down the road, but for now I just want him to be as happy and comfortable as he can be.

[cathycoats]

Thank you for these videos and sharing your experience. My mother is in her late stages of dementia. I hope that I am there with her when she passes. I do not fear death. I too believe it is the beginning of another part of life.

[roseprieto]

What a precious video. Your mama was beautiful. I believe my 98 year old mama is fairly close to death within the next week or two. I hope so for her sake. She has dementia and is tired of living and wants to go home with Jesus.

[latasha]

Omg that’s exactly how it was with my mom! I went to see her Thursday October 13 she was sleeping so much but when I kissed her on her head and told her it was okay to transition to be with the Lord and her kids that passed before here. She would wake up stare at me as if she was saying goodbye with her eyes because she could no longer speak, her eyes would follow me throughout the room we stayed with her for hours reminiscing. I told her it was okay to let go even though my heart was not ready to let her go. She took her last breath on October 16, 2022 at 8:55 am .

[starsmith]

You have brought much peace and understanding with your video. I volunteer at a alzheimer center and truly touch and soft spoken words can comfort them.

[mirtamaritzapellicia-krlt]

This is what awaits in my life with my sick husband… thanks for sharing this experience with us. May God bless u plentiful.. hugs!!!

[bulosqoqish]

Thank you for the touching video. It is clear how much love you gave your mother in her last hours. You are the definition of "a loving and caring child", and you did your duty, so very well indeed. I am sure that your Mum knew and appreciated this.

[regie]

My mom passed away on June 30th from vascular dementia (a stroke and previous brain radiation for lung cancer). Pneumonia was listed as cause of death. Oh and blood clots in her lung and leg. My poor mom. Rest with Jesus mama 🙏🏾

[latasha]

My mom definitely had a burst of energy weeks before she died we thought she was recovering but it wasn’t the case

[Lilyflowers]

What a wonderful mum, she will be proud of you

[stephenvanwoert]

My grandmother had dementia for several years before dying a hard death in her early 80's, probably from dehydration and starvation, because she choked on everything and couldn't swallow properly. My mother, who worked as an aide at the nursing home where my grandmother died, stayed with her to the bitter end, but her 2 older siblings had to leave the room beforehand, because they were overcome by the death struggle. This was years ago, and that generation are all dead now, and one of their children. My other grandmother literally dropped dead at her kitchen sink from a (probably diabetic) heart attack in her 79th year.

[edward]

20 years ago my partner lost most of her memory.The police brought her home from town.Every day since then she has been on my arm as we have walked 3 miles every day rain or shine.Drinking 3 litres of fluid taking aspirin taking cod liver oil tablets eating fruit and veg exercises morning and night has left no more signs of deteriorating conditions except incontinence and sunset depression which is nipped in the bud with a 10 minute video of her family I pray she continues as she is now 83

[ellensc-hawley]

thank you for this deep insight in the dying journey

[ginav.]

I really felt you when you said that grief is a life long experience... my grandmother (86) has dementia... yesterday was the first time she had to ask which granddaughter I was on the phone... it broke my heart for her.. because knowing who she was... she would hate that she even had to ask that question... she mentioned seeing her mother last week... it has me thinking the end isn't far off. But what you said in the end really hit me due to just losing my own father... you never get over it... you just move on. Thank you for this.

[carlaiveglia]

Just saw this and wanted to say sorry for your loss. Been following you and your mom's story for a while. My dad died 2 years ago and he would have been 85 years old today. I sat with him for 7 days while he was going through the dying process and experienced many things you mentioned here. You have been a wonderful daughter to your mom ❤ thanks again Jo for sharing!