We are taking care of my 87 year old godmother, who I am her POA, and she has been like my mother my whole life, as my real mother was very ill since I was young and she passed away in 2003. I feel my godmother is in the early signs of dementia. Her father had dementia, and her younger brother just died from alzheimer's last year. She lived in an assisted living care/retirement center in PA for 3 years near me and I went to see her at least 2-3 times a week, but it was very expensive for the care I thought she was receiving, as I had to take her 4 times to the ER where she was admitted each time, due to the nurses at the retirement center did not notice she was sick! Since my partner and I are on SS disability ourselves due to chronic back problems and fibromyalgia, we moved to FL to get out of the Northeast cold winter months.
My godmother was never married, and her other brother only visited her 4 times in the 3 years she was at the retirement center, and her nieces and nephews never came to see her at all. When we decided to move, we never once thought of leaving her there by herself in PA, and since the bad experience she had at the retirement center, we decided to rent a house big enough for her to stay with us, and we have visiting nurses coming in 2 hrs a day to bathe and dress her.
Unfortunately, she has gone down hill very quickly and now needs someone with her 24/7. She has fallen 3 times and we have a monitor set up so I can hear her during the night if she tries to get up to go to the bathroom, but there are some nights she has me up 2-3 times and I am losing a lot of sleep. She got very upset with me when I bought side rails for her bed, as I am afraid of her falling. I have been so stressed lately, on top of my chronic back pain, I am now having stomach problems, which my doctor told me is due to stress.
I have family who just moved down here also from SD before we did, and they too were very close with my godmother years ago, but have not seen her in 5 years. At first they told me they would help me and watch her for us, but I feel since they see how she is now, they have been ignoring us and do not offer
any help. There are days I am ready to pull my hair out, and I hate to even admit it, but I am also starting to feel resentful as the only time we get out is to go grocery shopping or to Dr. appointments which means one of us stays at home with her, unless the appointment is for her. If I suggest to take her out with us anywhere, she tells us she does not want to go along, that she is too tired, or she wants to watch TV. I really do not want to put her in a nursing home, as I know she would not be qualified for assisted living any longer, and I am afraid of the quality of care she would receive, and yet if I take her to someone who does respite care, they want $120.00 a day, and with her already paying for nurses to come in everyday, it is getting very expensive! We just need some advise and help!
Thank You!
No one wants to put a loved one in a nursing home, but when you're reaching a point where you feel trapped and exhausted and like your life is no longer your own, it's time to explore options before your own health issues get worse.
It's tough, but in the long run she'll probably get better care than you and a couple of nurses for two hours can provide. And you''ll have your life back!
This is not selfishness, it's reality.
Try to place her where you can visit her regularly. She may adjust better than you think. She may be unable to see your point of view at first, but that may change.
Best of luck!
I cared for my Mom for 14 years, and there were many times that I wanted to "run away" from everything and escape to a tropical island to be alone.
Being a caregiver can slowly grind you down and fatigue you both mentally and physically.
When things start getting to you, arrange to have some "me time" for yourself.
It will help get you back on track.
If you are seriously thinking about a nursing home, start looking now even before you are ready. We found out the hard way that there were no beds available for my mom. That was frightening knowing she had to be placed somewhere and there was nowhere available that accepted insurance.
Remember that if her money runs out you can apply for Medicaid to pay for the nursing home. Perhaps you should speak to an Elder Law Attorney and he could help with figuring out her finances and even help to apply for Medicaid.