He's sending out signals. My mother did the same thing two years before and I selfishly told her I didn't like hearing her say she wanted to die. In retrospect I wish things were different but back then I wasn't ready to accept her rapidly deteriorating mental state. I suppose no one ever really is. He's reaching out. He knows what you can and cannot handle. You sound like you love your dad a lot. He may say things you may not understand. Just be there for him.