Wendy,
From my own experience, I can tell you that you should do your best to treat him as normal as possible. That means, allowing for him to be himself as much as possible. When my dad was with us, he refused to lie in bed all day. So, we accommodated him by getting him up every day and getting him comfortable in the living room. He only stayed in bed when he was ready for bed for the night. His internal clock was off so he would awaken at like 230am most days. So, I would get up with him, make breakfast for us and just start my day at that time. We watched tv together and I would take him with me to the store, even though he couldn't move much on his own. His mind was still the same, so he helped me in the store while shopping. He felt like he was contributing and that made him feel good.
At first, if he coughed or something, I was right there giving him full attention. This annoyed him and he told me that he would let me know if something was wrong, otherwise, he just needed me to watch him every now and then. If he wanted something he couldn't get, he would ask. I learned to stop trying to think for him and do too much for him.
So, I hope this helps. Just try to remember that the best thing you can do for him is just be there for him. My dad and I loved to laugh. I used to sit and hold his hand while he slept. He loved that and he told me once that he could feel my hand in his sleep. I loved that so much. My dad and I made it a point to talk more, laugh more, and just enjoy each other as much as we could. When time didn't allow for anymore of that, I had to accept it. Now, I look back on those times and it makes me smile....it just makes me smile and proud to have had such a courageous dad.
Hang in there, ok?
God bless,
Vinnie