Prolonged suffering marked final years

I witnessed the devastation of dementia with my dad four years ago. I wish medically assisted death had been available for him. Dad had always told me he would never want to be at the mercy of caregivers, in a diaper, being spoon fed. Sadly, that is exactly how he spent the last four years of his life.

His health and independence disappeared after he was placed in a public longterm care facility (CHLSD). Because of his aggressive behaviour, he had to be medicated. Over time, he was unable to eat or walk. He was confined to a wheelchair, and never taken outside. Residents sat in a TV room all day.

During his stay, he developed a prostate problem. He kept pulling out his Foley catheter, which then would require an emergency hospital visit. There, he would be medicated to keep him quiet, and he would spend up to eight hours on a gurney in the corridor.

This happened about six times during his stay at the residence. Eventually, a tube for urination was surgically installed, which became a source of infections.

Caregivers are often desensitized to the suffering, while doctors may assume patients are calm and comfortable.

Dad’s last few days were not the peaceful transition the doctor had described. The day he died, she had asked me to come as quickly as possible. He had developed pneumonia. She told me he would be given morphine and he would not last long.

I arrived at 1 p.m. He was having difficulty breathing. The morphine was started only at 6 p.m. I had to keep asking the nurse, and she kept telling me they were waiting for the morphine to arrive. His last hours were painful to watch, and will forever be imprinted on my mind.

Afterward, I wrote to the social worker at the residence to complain. I never received a response.

George Gervin, Montreal