I was with my dad, who has been deceased for over a year now. He was sick in the dream and did eventually pass away only to wake up hours later telling us it was a joke. Immediately I started packing up his room from the retirement home to bring him to live with me. One of my biggest regrets after he passed was putting him in a retirement home.
This dream appears to be a reflection of your emotions and unresolved feelings regarding your father's passing and the decisions you made during his final days. The presence of your deceased father symbolizes a strong connection and longing to be with him again.
The dream indicates that you still carry a sense of guilt or regret over placing him in a retirement home. Packing up his room to bring him to live with you represents your desire to rectify that decision and take care of him personally. It symbolizes your longing for a second chance and a desire to make amends for any perceived shortcomings as a caregiver.
The dream may also highlight unresolved grief and the difficulty you had accepting your father's death. The scenario of him passing away but then waking up to reveal it was a joke suggests a longing for him to be alive again. This could indicate a deep-seated wish for more time with your father and the opportunity to address any unfinished business or unresolved emotions.
Overall, this dream reflects your strong emotional connection with your father and your desire to make amends for the past while also expressing your ongoing grief and the difficulty of accepting his passing. It may be a signal for you to take time to process your emotions, reconcile any regrets, and find healing and closure within yourself.