My mom is 81. All my life she was the one that had it all together. My dad had heart issues, diabetes and COPD. Mom knew all his pills, when his Dr. appointments were etc. Then in Sept of 2020 mom had a stroke. Dad said she got up out of her chair and couldn't remember where the bathroom was. Dad waited days to call me and let me know. A week later, I took her to a Dr. and they tested her for a UTI, it was inconclusive because I believe the sample was contaminated. We put her on antibiotics anyway. After this she seemed to be getting better, teaching herself how to use the computer again, etc. Then a couple of months later she lost all interest in it or learning anything again. Dad would call me and say mom didn't get dressed today, just stayed in her nightgown. She stopped doing dishes, feeding the cats, just didn't do anything.
The Dr.'s didn't do any other tests on her except memory type tests. The general practice doctor did a CAT scan and said it was okay. We went to a neurologist. They gave her more memory tests. I asked about an MRI and they asked me if I thought she should have one. I didn't know? I finally found another doctor, private pay, and had him look at her. He had an MRI and bloodwork done on her and came back and told me yes, she did have a stroke and there was other “TIA activity”.
He said he believes this is what caused her to stop learning and lose interest in everything. My grandmother (mom’s mom) also had what they then called mini strokes and had dementia. She was in a nursing home for years. After talking to this doctor, we determined that my mom is having the same issue my grandmother had. I think they call it Multi-infarct dementia?
My dad said he would take care of mom as long as possible. In January of this year, my dad died. My mom actually figured out how to call me and my brother that day. Since then I have been taking care of everything. I live in a different state, 4 hours away. I basically moved in with my mom for the first 6 months of this year trying to get things worked out.
My husband and I are currently living in a very small trailer while we build our house. We have been building it for five years now and are so close to being done, but now this. The house has come to a standstill and now mom is living in the trailer with us.
A few years ago, mom, dad and I did find a lawyer and drew up a POA, a Medical POA, living will and a will for both of them. They made me all the POAs. After dad died, I did find an elder law firm and created a trust for moms home and another property they own that my brother lives in. And we put the homes in the trust and as much of her savings as I could in it as well.
I have two brothers, one lives in the state my mom lived in and one lives 8 hours away.
I am mom’s caregiver, 24/7. I work from home full time in IT and take on-call every 4 weeks. This is the only way I am able to do this. I help mom with everything, incontinence, showering, dressing brushing her teeth, everything. Now she has gotten to wandering during the day and night. Her short-term memory is so bad, when she is on the toilet, if I ask if she peed, she can’t remember.
I am not getting sleep and still working. My brother is now watching mom for a week about every 4 or 5 weeks for me to get a break. I’m afraid to get in home care since our trailer is so small we would all be on top of one another. My brothers don’t want to put her in care but they don’t understand. When he watches her, it’s at her house and he just stay’s there for a week until I’m back. I have to incorporate her into my whole life. She is attached to me 24 hrs. a day. I feel so alone in my decision to want to put her in a memory care facility.
I feel like a failure to my mom and family. I'm so stressed. While working, I can’t spend time with her, my job is pretty demanding and my boss is not my friend. I feel a memory care facility could keep her occupied instead of bored watching TV. I’m afraid we are making her worse.
Because that is more accurate than asking if you should keep sacrificing for them. You are giving your life to something you can’t fix. That doesn’t mean you can’t love her.
But, as much as you want to, you can’t give her life back to her by giving her yours.
It’s a paradigm shift, but an important one for anyone in your position… definitely one I had to make as well, so I say it with kindness and empathy.
It's nice to hear a happy story about placement. They are so rare. I'm glad your mother found a good life in AL.
It is past time to place your mom in care, regardless of what your fair weather, once every several weeks co-caregiver brother and the other sib think. You cannot do this any longer and she's poised to harm herself now that she's wandering too.
Save yourself, your marriage and your mom from erosive harm and have her placed. The wandering in and of itself is all the justification you need to provide to anyone and do not be convinced that alarms will serve any purpose; you cannot do this a second longer.
Start now in locating a MC unit with an available bed and get her placed, asap.
It's unbelievable that you've done this for a half year! have mom placed, save yourself and resume working on your dream home.
Be strong and unwavering.
Determining when to place your mother in a care facility not only depends on her behavior, but also on your physical and mental wellness. The caregiving experience for a LO with dementia is different for each and every one of us. Her past strokes and TIAs are the hallmarks of vascular dementia. VaD is caused by lack of blood flow to the brain and, consequently, lack of oxygen.
When should you place her? Let’s start with you. You’ve put your life on hold: construction of your house is at a standstill; you help your mom with “everything, incontinence, showering, dressing brushing her teeth”; you are stressed out and not getting proper sleep; you feel alone. That’s a lot! These are all indications that you’re being overwhelmed with her care. This stress is certainly not good for your wellbeing.
As for you mom, she can no longer perform any ADLs on her own. You have to do it all for her, cooking, showering, dressing, hygiene, etc. Of most concern is your mom’s wandering, especially at night. It is very dangerous for her and, I’m sure, frightening for you. It’s a game changer.
You can’t cure, change or control your mom’s disease. It’ll worsen over time. Continuing to care for your mom at home can only lead to more stress and even bitterness. Your feeling of being a failure is truly misplaced. Every day you sacrifice part of your life for her benefit, not yours. And if you’re concerned about forfeiting your care of her, placing your mom in a care facility IS caring for her… and YOU!
Now is the time. It takes courage, but it also takes love.
I wish you well.
Failing your mother would be insisting you will care for her, no matter what-- at the expense of her life and yours. Because unless you can live on no sleep, and are a nurse, physical therapist, pharmacist, and security guard all in one... you can't keep doing this. No one person can. You'll die before your mom does, and I say that in all seriousness.
This situation is not safe for her or for you. It's making both of you worse.
If your brothers don't want her in care, then they have two options. They either move to be with her full time, or bring her to live 24/7 in their homes. If they don't like these two options, then a facility it is. You should not be the one who handles everything simply because you're the only daughter. It's maddening how many daughters on here were expected to give up their lives for caregiving, while their brothers could keep living life as they pleased (I am an only daughter too!).
I often say that caregiving is a job that people think they can 'love their way through'. That love will be enough to sustain their efforts. It isn't. If love alone was sustainable, there would be no need for this forum!
I knew I was in bad shape when my mom said it, my aunt said it, and then a freaking actress in one of the ubiquitous Hallmark movies ALSO SAID IT within a week... o.o :D
At least my mother will, about once every two weeks, give me and my hubby heartfelt thanks for bringing her in <3 even thru all the mental ups and downs <3. If anyone needs a spare "thank you so much my daughter" I have more than I ever expected and can share some of them
Placing someone you love is hard. Nearly everyone feels some kind of guilt or self-doubt when they have to do it. That's normal and you're not alone.
You can't manage the kind of care your mother needs. No one person can. She needs care from a full and professional staff.
I'll tell you that you're right in thinking that you may be making her worse keeping her with you. I worked as a caregiver for almost 25 years and have seen so many sick and elderly people kept "home" when they shouldn't have been. Their whole life was tv, eating, crapping themselves, and sleeping. No socialization and no activity.
Start looking at memory care facilities. Placement is what's best for your mother and everyone else.
Why do your brothers feel you should give up your whole life? If you have an Instagram ..go on "narcissist_nab" and watch her reels.. Time for you to take care of YOU!
YOU are NOT a failure! "It takes a village." You have done well & will continue to do well as her Daughter! Time to bring in assistants/relocate her to a better environment-situation. <3
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