hello 

this is very hard to predict but because hes not drinking etc i cant see it being long when my dad was near the end we was looking for signs like not drinking, not eating etc but dad was drinking milk 4 pints of it a day .. on the day dad passed he seemed more restless and confused one min then had total clarity the next , he kept tryng to get out of bed even tho he couldnt weight bear... im not an expert on this but id guess and it is a guess and anytime to 10days maybe .. i nursed my dad for the last 7 weeks of his life and it was hard work but i wouldnt have changed a minute.. my dad passed during the night when he had a night nurse in, i dont think he would have gone if we were with him.. but his death was painless at the end he looked like he was smiling.. my advice is explain to the children that i could happen anytime and let them spend as much time with him as they want to ... 

good luck 

L x 

Hello Keb; welcome to the forum and so sorry about your family sorrows.  From what you say (no longer able to swallow, carers calling very frequently plus nurse daily) I would say that you are now getting down to the final days.   As you say every case is different but once swallowing has been lost it is  - in my experience which is not enormous but I have cared for a few terminally-ill friends - the end is not so far off.  I would tell your children that grandad is slowing down and he will soon die (however you choose to word this).  I am glad that you are involving your children in what is happening - I have found that when the children are kept informed and still see their grandad they can accept what is happening.  (Pardon me for mentioning this when you are obviously coping very well.)  They will be sad but not distressed if they are well prepared.   Have you asked the nurse for her opinion of your dad's situation.   Annie