Way back in January Bat Goddess said
"I'm constantly "on" listening -- and interpreting -- every noise that eminates from the room he's in. He can't yell for help if he gets into trouble."

One of the cheapest and most useful things we bought while looking after my MIL was a cordless doorbell. A little button at hand, the receiver in whatever room I was (or even in the garden). It meant we could relax - not having to run in everytime someone on TV shouted. And one of us could have it in their bedroom while the other would be on 'getting up early' duty.

It's not easy, you do it because you think you can do better than paid 'care' by strangers. But towards the end we started wondering if she would be more comfortable elsewhere. They would have given her more pain relief - we couldn't because it left her too floppy to help herself. Not much of a life either way, by then.

Best wishes to everyone in that situation now.