How to stop my dad going upstairs?

My dad has stage 4 advanced lung cancer which has spread to his brain. 3 weeks ago he had a chest infection, a blood clot in his lung and then pneumonia. He's now very very weak. We have a hospital bed downstairs in our home but my dad refuses to wee downstairs in a bucket or bottle. He insists he uses the upstairs toilet. He gets very angry when I suggest he stays downstairs. So I stay up all night waiting for him to go upstairs to the toilet and I follow him up. Last night, at 3am I saw him getting up so I followed him upstairs. Luckily I was behind him because he fell and I caught him. I nearly fell down the stairs too. My Dad is a big lad and I'm a small 27 year old female. Then when we finally got upstairs, he was fighting for his breath and screaming out "I'm having a heart attack" he was too weak to go back downstairs to his hospital bed and he went straight into his bedroom. I stayed in there with him all night and then in the morning he insisted on going downstairs. I helped him but he was shouting "get off" and then he fell over and banged his head. I don't know what to do now. I want him to have his freedom because he's very independent but at the same time, I don't want him to fall down the stairs and put both of our lives at risk. I wish he'd stay downstairs and use the bottle but he goes mad when I suggest it. He's had personality changes with the cancer being in his brain. It's all just so heartbreaking. My poor Dad. Does anyone have any advice?

  • I honestly think you need some help with Dad.  Get hold of his McMillan nurse and talk to her, being honest in what you tell them.. It's very hard as I have been behind my husband before then realised if we both went that would be no help at all.  Would Dad use a commode maybe?  Ring them ASAP.  Good luck,  Carol x 

  • I  wish I could add to advice above and so sorry l can't help but all I can do is offer heartfelt empathy for what you are going through. I realised too it was not safe for me to try and help  when my dad used the stairs, you really couldn't stop him though and I was awake at night listening for him heading to them even though I couldn't help physically.  It was heartbreaking and terrifying each and every time.  But you really can't risk being behind your dear dad.  We didn't have a Macmillan nurse or anything, so I really hope they can help you with some ideas. You must surely be exhausted with lack of sleep. xxx