LaurenCortese sending you big hugs. I am caregiver for spouse. I have some confusion about the End Stage part also. My husband is still mobile, but struggles more and more every day with the physical. Luckily, his mental state is very strong ! He was diagnosed in 2013 with Early Onset. One thing to keep in mind is that everyone who has Parkinson's is different and the stages seem to have overlap in symptoms. I am NOT an expert, but my take on the End Stage is that the person becomes bed ridden unless aided by another person. My other take is that more serious problems may start to show, such as swallowing problems or choking problems, or debilitating mental health problems. It is my understanding that not everyone gets the dementia. I think it is important to get Medical Power of Attorney and things like that situated before your loved one reaches the End Stage. We haven't done that yet, but need to. Not to give false hope, but some people on this site have had Parkinson's for 20 years and don't seem to be in the End Stage. Others on here seem to have a rapid progression over a few years. It is confusing. You sound like you are doing everything possible to ease your loved one's suffering. For me, one of the hardest things about being a caregiver is the harsh reality that you can't help the person heal from the disease, you can only ease pain and suffering and as you mentioned help create as beautiful a day, each day, as possible. The other hard part of being a caregiver is giving yourself a BREAK. I am struggling with this, but hope to improve. Yours with light and love.....

Thank you for sharing such a difficult and painful time in such a beautiful and loving way.

Hello, dear one. The best advice I can find give is to live each moment with acceptance, but without fear of the future. You sort of have to find peace in just taking each day as it comes. Enjoy each day, as you can. Keep finding ways to laugh, get out of the house, if you can, and express your love, always. For several years, hubby and I participated in Rock Steady Boxing, something we really looked forward to 3 days per week. We benefitted from the exercise and social aspects
Educate yourself and observe the changing dynamics, which will occur. Keep talking with his Dr. Get caregiving help as needed...so you don't burn yourself out. Insomnia and incontinence and other issues can be dealt with. Give yourself grace. You need a break from all that will be required, so get plenty of rest, even if you have to sleep in another room. Hubby got pneumonia once and had to go into hospital. Symptom was higher than normal blood pressure and a wet cough. Pneumonia can happen through aspirating a bit of liquid or food or can be community acquired. Everything eventually changes and becomes the new normal.As people become unsteady, balance issues can cause them to fall. We had a walk in shower done with grab bars & put in chair. Brought hospital bed for him into living room, with bedside commode and urinal. I was my hubby's caregiver through all the stages. I took him everywhere with me. I would say that PD causes issues that affect many of the body systems, which can be compounded when people with PD also have Dementia, as was true in the case of my husband. This exacerbates the condition, and limits life expectancy. Hubby also had cardiovascular disease. We changed his diet to a Mediterranean diet, mier veggies, olive oil, no beef or pork. Swallowing can become an issue. Medications were taken on top of spoon of applesauce. We had a swallow study done and changed his diet again to bite sized, cooked, moist foods. He still loved my cooking, but I also added protein shakes to his diet. Eventually, in later stages, we had to prepare thickened water for him to drink as regular or "thin water" is actually difficult to swallow. At one point, Parkinson's medicine stopped working correctly in his system and caused Dyskenesia, uncontrolled, painful tremors. One day, he was walking, the next day, his body couldn't bear weight. He was taken to the hospital. We found out he was in last stage of PD. We spread out C/L doses and reduced level of Carbidipa- Levadopa and his painful tremors went away. Dr gave us choice of Hospice. With the help of a Macy Catheter, to receive his Carbidipa-Levadopa, mind meds, and Tylenol, he was kept comfortable. (He had already stopped taking vitamins when it wasn't important any longer.) Blessings on this unsought journey! Make the time with your beloved special for you both. Memories are forever, dear ones!

Parkinson’s is not directly fatal, but it does increase the likelyhood of death. Parkinson’s makes it hard to swallow and therefore increases the risk of aspiration of food into your lungs, which causes pneumonia. It also increases your fall risk, which increases your risk of death.

Parkinson’s Stages:

https://www.myparkinsonsteam.com/resources/stag...