OP, I'm so sorry. My mom was in hospice for a week inpatient. She was no responsive the whole time. It was agony watching and waiting and seeing this fabulous smart, strong, beautiful spitfire lie silently and wait to die.

We ate meals around her bed and got good and drunk, often. We told stories and laughed and sobbed.

I brushed her hair and held her hand constantly. I took a picture of our hands together. I've never shown it to anyone in the world. It's just for me. I cherish it.

The last night of her life, we wrote her obituary together at her bedside. We read it to her and she died a few hours later. I think she waited until we got it right.

It is awful and I'm so sorry. It will end. Sending strength.

Yes. I am praying for you. It is so very very hard.

Yes, it ends. IME, when the start talking to their loved ones who have passed, the end is near. I'm sorry, OP.

Do you have a faith tradition that you participate in? Praying helps keep the fear under control. It gives you something to do with your brain and stops the racing. I was raised Catholic and saying rosaries was a deeply meditative, calming exercise for me when my dad died.

If you don't have that, do you have a book that your mom loved or that you love? Read it to her. She can take comfort in your voice and it will help you do something with your brain that is less painful than just sitting there.

If not a book, what about a movie or music? Keep it quiet, but it can be comforting and relaxing to have it there in the room. You can hold her hand and listen to music that she loves.

It ends, but it will take a lot out of you. If you can, try to plan yourself some time to rest and recover afterwards. Be gentle with yourself. It is normal for this to be extremely hard-- if you love your parent, how could it not?

Yes, it ends, but it is so painful while it is happening. It is heartbreaking to watch a parent with a zest for life reaching the end. I am tearing up right now remembering my own mother clutching at those last days of life. I am continually surprised by how the grief resurfaces.

Take good care of yourself during this time, OP, and know you are doing a good thing, giving your mother all the love and comfort you can during the end of her life. Be very gentle with herself after the end, because while you may feel very fragile for a long time afterwards. Lean on the people around you.

Sending you hugs.

I assisted, briefly, while my mom cared for my grandfather. You better believe my mom took advantage of every break and minute away that anyone offered. It was excruciating for her. And for what it's worth, my grandfather also seemed to be thinking of a past love - for us at least it was my grandmother who had died many years before him. He was calling everyone Peg and trying to work something out. It's so tough. But you are giving the greatest gift. Oddly enough, I think it's a huge privilege to see someone off to the other side. Take care of yourself and wishing you and your family some peace.

So sorry, OP. It's really hard. Maybe you can talk to a hospice staffer and get a clearer idea of what to expect? Some pretty dark stuff is to be expected, from what I understand.

Take what comes, one hour or one minute at a time. Honestly, you just go with it and ride the wave. You will probably look back on this time, as hard as it is, and be really grateful that you could be there and support her in her last days. A lot of people don't get to do that.

OP, I have been their. My mom lasted just over a weel on hospice at home. Hardest week ever. I kept asking the hospice volunteer how much longer she would last because it was so bad. Hang in there. Be nice to yourself and try to take deep breaths. This won't last long and once she is gone that is it. Please keep posting so we know how you are doing.

I remember when my dad was dying. Didn't realize all the pain meds meant he was out of it towards the end. A blessing in some ways for him but so hard nit yo be able to communicate.

I'm sorry OP. Hang in there.

This is so hard - I know. I cared for both my mom and dad during their final days. The hardest part, for me, was thinking back to when they were strong, vibrant people and seeing them so helpless and dependent.
It does end, OP. Your mother is lucky to have you there to care for her. Hang in there. In the end, you will be comforted by the fact that you were there for her.

She is close to the end. Just be there. There is nothing more you can do. I'm sorry.

Yes. Can you talk to a hospice nurse about finding a support group? What you are doing is really hard.

My mother is home in hospice. True fact: I am taking a break and hiding in the bathroom for a few minutes now that her pain meds have kicked in a bit, and my stepdad is back from the store.

This is heartbreaking. She is in pain we are trying our damndest to control, and that means she is out of it. She mutters things that lead me to believe she is reliving some old heartbreak.

This ends, right?