How long can someone live on life support for?

Question

No medical background at all. My grandmother was told by the nursing home that she's dying but my aunt felt like something was wrong. The nursing home sent my grandmother to the ER and got sent home three times because they couldn't find anything and just said that she's 98 and these are signs someone is dying. The fourth time my aunt made them admit her. My aunt was there every time and when my grandmother was discharged every time, she brought her right back and said we're not leaving til she gets better.
She's now on the ICU and on a breathing machine (it's not a ventilator, it's something else), tonnes of IVs, antibiotics, a feeding tube, and all sorts of crazy stuff. She's been in a coma for a week. I went to visit and my aunt was there and the doctor kept saying that she needs to go back to the nursing home or go to hospice but she's dying. 
We don't understand how she's dying on life support.  My aunt says the treatments are working. The hospital is having a discharge meeting on Monday and the nursing home wants to have her come back on hospice but my aunt said no. We're doing everything to save her life. We can't give up on her when something is critically wrong with her. 
My aunt is refusing to have the discharge meeting but the nurse reached out to me to seen if I want to talk but out of respect to my aunt I said no. The nurse said that eventually my grandmother is going to die. But I'm like... Can't you just keep her alive until we're ready? Like that's what life support is?

Answer

If she’s 98 she may be dying from natural causes it’s nothing the hospital can do to stop death or heal her I’m sorry but this is part of the life cycle. I hope your family can cope well during this process

Answer

Someone who’s 98 and dying of natural causes (because shes 98 years old, which you guys seem to be ignoring) should not be on life support and it’s sick that you guys are putting her through trauma in her last days. 
There’s nothing medically or critically wrong with her. 
Shes 98! It’s her time to go. Let her go. 
This poor woman deserves to die in peace. Your aunt needs mental health support because she is delusional. You all are.

Answer

wtf is wrong with you? She’s 90fucking8 let her rest and be at peace. How selfish of your family to put her poor body through that. She’s dying. Do you know how horrific it is to be hooked up to machines like that? Shame on all of you. The hospital is not the appropriate place for her to be. They don’t keep people on life support there indefinitely. Do you have no common sense or decency? Do you not know there are people waiting to be admitted who need the actual care? Seriously, this is straight stupid and disrespectful.

Answer

You'll never be ready...it is never enough time when you love someone. But it isn't about you or you being ready. It is about what she would have wanted and whats the best for her. I'm sorry you are going through this but sadly death is part of life. Say goodbye and do whats best and most respectful for her because if you wait until you're ready you are waiting for a day that will never come.

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She’s 98, at this point keeping her alive is cruel.

Answer

I understand that you want her alive. I wanted my 28 year old sister alive, sadly keeping her on life support would just have been cruel. It would have meant multiple rounds of cpr, cracked ribs, and pure agony. The same with my grandmother, she went on hospice and was on it for weeks, she had no improvement, it was just kind of obvious that her body was starting to shut down. The doctors and nurses aren’t evil, they don’t want to take her. If there was a chance she could live a happy, healthy life, they would want that with all their heart. Your grandmother is 98. I would sign papers to stop all life saving measures. This means that if she does need cpr, they will not give it. You do not want your 98 year old grandmother to have broken ribs and bruises all over her, her last moments would be filled with pain. Hospice is a dignified way to go and it can be beautiful. She is ready to go, you will have time to prepare yourselves with her on hospice and the caregivers are amazing. We still get letters in the mail with counseling resources and other options.

Answer

The body begins to shut down and even life support can’t save them. Once death is coming there is little that can be done sadly. Keeping her alive until you’re ready? Unfortunately consider what is best for her. Terrible things can start to happen on life support by forcing a body to live when unfortunately the time has come

Answer

This is straight up cruel and inhumane. She’s 98 years old. There’s no “wait until we’re ready,” you’ll never be ready. But she’s ready. She’s giving every sign that it’s her time. Forcing her body through this is sadistic. You need to take the meeting with hospital personnel and call the shots if your aunt is too emotional to do it herself. She may hate you for it, but can you live with yourself knowing you allowed your grandmother to suffer so much in her final days?

Answer

U have to do what is right by her and not urselves.. it is hard to let go but she's had a long life.. i'm sure u both don't want her to suffer anymore.

Answer

My mom was on life support, completely brain dead. She never came to and the moment they removed the tube she was gone. Not even a shudder of breath. I know its hard, but its life.

How long can someone live on life support for?

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