I am interested in reading experiences of primary caregivers of a dying parent.

[Corgigal]

20. I took care of my father in law

for the last 3 days of his life. He just got of the hospital and did not know that he was going to pass this quickly. I knew he was scared to be alone at night, which never happened before so I stayed on the sofa.

The night before he passed he asked about why he was so tired. I told him, Ralph you just got out of the hospital and are recovering from an infection. I never realized how Important these last words would be. I want to believe it took away a bit of his fear. We did help him get to bed, a glass of water and turned on a channel he would watch on tv.

At around 3 am, I heard the cat in the hallway. His door was 90 percent closed, but I remember looking up to see if he was getting up to use the bathroom. He wasn't. I also remember talking to him that night, are you ok? Which I asked him the previous morning when I awoke. He answered no, but a dream. He did pass quietly and without pain when I discovered him around 930. I kind of knew something was wrong because I got up before him.

It wasn't a long time care, I'm just happy he wasn't alone. I also wanted to say my husband old law enforcement agency stationed a car outside of the home until his body was removed.