Hi all I have talked about this before on this site and here it goes.: I was looking for a person on here that is going through the same/ similar issues as me. I found something on here that talked about no one can be a caregiver 24/7 days well I am that one person! My mom is 95 going on 96 next month and let me say that its been tough. I have been doing this caregiving since 2002 and after the surgery (in 2008) things changed she is on a walker and has a ostomy bag and does not want to do much meaning her exercises, dr. appointments or go to the day center which is only 1 day a week. Her health is ok for her age but all she wants to do is sit in her chair and watch tv I am trying to keep her mobile because what they say use it or loose it. And were we live we have stairs 13 of them and if she does not want to go down well she will lock up her legs and won't go down and we just moved here in 2013 and she can do it only if she wants to go. I have asked for help in the house and I never here back from the people and I do follow up I am able to go out to do errands but not be gone to long. I have a couple of neighbors that will sit at the house for me to do my errands but that's it. We have NO FAMILY in our state and my friends well I guess that I blew their ears off don't here much from them or don't always want to here me talk about my mom issues. I have done respite a couple of times but that was very hard to get her to go this last time she did want to get out of the car ( And I was moving to our new place) then tried t make me feel bad that I took her there. And I tried to find a place that had a elevator no luck come to find out on the news that were we used to live had a electrical fire in the walls. Guess it was time to go. I have a lot on my plate and have managed to handle it as best as I can many people would have given up and put their parent in a home I am trying NOT to do that. I feel that I need to get a break before I have a breakdown then I won't be no good to the both of us I try to talk to her about it I call it a "vacation" she shuts off the hearing and won't say anything or say just take care of me you are my daughter well that's what I've been doing. my friend said that even iron gets tired and breaks down wow you are right. Besides the mom issues I have a son that has a disability that I keep up with ( he lives in a group home) and another one that lives out of state ( that a whole another story) put they are my kids and well I try. And I am taking a online course for medical coding ( I've been on my own spring break it's was getting to hard could not concentrate but I am ready to get back at it .) Back to the issue how can I get her to let me have this break I know what to do and where she can go it's a matter of her being willing to do this. I think she thinks that I wont come back but that s not true for many reasons that I will not say at this time.After her birthday next month I will try to make plans to do this respite adventure. I just need to vent a little and I hope that I did not make to many typos LOL.And before I end this story I am a 55 years old and want to turn it up a little not to have to drain the bag cook dinner ect .....just do me what ever that is and know that she will be taken care of and maybe visit her or not I want to get on a plane and go visit a friend or go see some family some thing different beside the normal ssdd thatmeans same s.. different day hope that when I do get my break it won't be spent in the hospital because there are some things that I need to take care of for my health so if that's what it is well I got it done. Been putting it off to long anyways. Well I will close for now going back to bed mom will be getting up soon. God bless all of us caregivers we are a unique group of people because everybody can't do this. :-)Peace.....
I hope everything will work out just fine for you and you'll get the break that you deserve.
Have a wonderful, peaceful time when you go. You deserve it.