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Ok for those who have helped me out in the past, I'll start with a little update. I reached my breaking point with my father's insistence on driving although he is legally blind in one eye and deaf. I brought him to an assisted living facility near my home and talked frankly about his options. Clearly, although he even agreed that the place was lovely, he wanted to continue to live with me. He said he was allergic to the carpeting and felt tightness in his chest while in there. (Just plain anxiety if you ask me) My husband and I listed a set of conditions that he would have to agree to in order to stay in our home. The most important of these was to stop driving, give me the signed title to his car which we are going to sell immediately and to never speak of driving again. I have arranged for regular alternate transportation which he resists, but has agreed to in order to stay. Sounds like a resolution, right? Well, it has been short lived. He now has switched from badgering me about giving him his car to insisting to be brought to the emergency room to have surgery on an inguinal hernia that he claims is painful.
A little background on that matter. When my mother died in 2004 my father decided to surgically repair this hernia which he was putting off for years. At that time he was not cleared for surgery because of an abnormality in his EKG. We followed up with a cardiologist who did a cath to see what the issue was. My father was diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis. The cardiologist advised to have the valve replaced. My father refused. The doctor explained that my father was putting himself in a dangerous position because he will not survive anesthesia with this stenosis. My father refused the heart surgery and of course there was no hernia surgery either as a result. Now, he says he can't stand the pain of the hernia, so last Tuesday I brought him to the ER just to rule out strangulation, they did a CAT scan it is not strangulated. It is very large and no doubt uncomfortable, but essentially it is not a life or death situation. This would be the only circumstance that the hospital would perform surgery on him even though the risk of mortality is so high. They told him to take Tylenol for the pain. So this is where we are. My father now cries and whines to me every day to take him to the ER because he is uncomfortable, even though he knows full well they will not operate on him. I avoid him and this conversation, but we are right back where we started. He is still driving me crazy in MY house. The topic is no longer the car, but now this surgery. My husband and I do not feel comfortable forcibly removing my 87 year old father from our home, but what do I do to change this situation? He does not have dementia but is obviously narcissistic. I resent being badgered as if I'm the one who is stopping him from having this surgery. I did not make these choices, he did. His response to us at that time was, "When I die, I die." However, he did not die, he has just become a crotchety, old, impossible to please person who insists on disrupting my daily routine and life as much as he possibly can. There is nothing more I can do for him. He lives in my home, I cook, clean, launder his clothes, pay his bills, conduct all his business transactions, take him to the doctor, everything. My thanks for all this intrusion in my life is creating constant havoc and uproar for me and my family. Oh and I should note that my parents have been living with me since 1998. I work full time and have two teenage sons. My mom died of ovarian cancer in 2004. I have two brothers who are verbally supportive of me, but are not hands on AT ALL. The day to day has been all me forever with both my parents, but more so now with my dad. So thanks for the vent and if anyone has walked in my shoes and can give me words of wisdom I so desperately need, please , help.

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Thanks for the reply ruralwannabe. I agree, I think my dad hates what his life has become, but let's face it his world became smaller due to the choices he has made throughout his life. He didn't want to do the work to forge new relationships and now everyone he knew is deceased and he is essentially alone socially. He now keeps himself "entertained" with his obsessions on what ails him. I can't turn back the clock and I am not responsible for the fact that he now does not like the end results of his choices. It's too late now and he has to buck up and make the best of the time he has left without driving those around him (my family and I) nuts.
Thanks again.
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.... Sometimes people just don't want to live if the life they've got is all they're ever gonna get.....
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"His world has become so small that his obsessions is all he has." Can we make their world a little larger? Read to them, sing with them, make silly faces? Just saying to try everything, and don't think you always have to be the responsible grown up. I think half the problem is nobody wants to feel dependent on someone else. But if you give someone enough rope to hang themself or have fun (their choice) you have to be willing to accept the consequences. Sometimes people just don't want to live if the life they've got is all they are ever gonna get. No, I don't know the answer. But sometimes you have to stop looking to find it.
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Sorry to hear your difficult position. I can empathize with you. I was fortunate that my mother refused to moved in with my family when she couldn't manage by herself. Now she lives not far from me, but her difficult behavior drives my family mad. Your love and care for your father is quickly diminishing with the whining. I would highly recommend looking for a care facility in your area to save your own sanity. It will only take one day of inattention and you could have a serious accident. Good luck!
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Why don't you call Hospice and let them get your father's pain under control??? Tylenol? Give me a break! I've experienced way too many ER docs who THINK they know..but, not hardly. I can tell you one thing, I'd do whatever I could to relieve pain in my father (if I still had him) as I would and do with my mother and as I would with anyone else in pain.
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AnOnlyChild post continued (sorry). She has recovered but still refuses to get out of bed except rarely (with a hoyer lift and into a wheelchair), still refuses PT, therefore will never walk again. She does have dementia, which the docs did not diagnose until I insisted on a neuro exam. Back to your situation, you must choose your health and your marriage over your father! If you have power of attorney, you will be able to have him admitted to assisted living. My Mom did take it seriously when I told her it was either her leaving our home or me; perhaps your father will also understand this (if you really mean it). You have no reason to feel guilty (although this may take time to realize); you are not putting him on the street, but arranging for care, help and shelter for him. I also recently cut back my visits to Mom from daily to only once or twice a week, telling her I was exhausted and needed to take care of myself, my home, my hubby. I bring her some favorite foods or treats when I visit and keep the time short as soon as she begins to "revert". I hope this does not sound too harsh, and I hope you and your husband can come to a conclusion that is healthy for everyone. Hugs and prayers.
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I know what you are going through. Mom lived w/my hubby and me 4 yrs, then assisted living 3 years until they refused to take her back after hospitalization because she had been troublesome to many roommates whose families insisted they be removed from her room. Then with hubby and me 3 more yrs until I broke my wrist taking care of something for her that was caused by her not eating properly. I told her it was either her leaving our home or me! She has been in a nursing home 4 years now and is still selfish, unpleasable, in pain from osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, broken kneecap (from osteoporosis) on morphine, AND a pain patch, AND anti-anxiety meds AND an anti-anxiety gel. She will NEVER change. Two months ago, she was near death, extremely slow and irregular respirations
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This could be off base, but another possibility came to mind. If a person is irrational and impossible to please, and does not have dementia for an excuse (remember that cogntive impairment can be more subtle than forgetting familiar people and basic orientation...sometimes that's worth an objective evaluation too) then...he may be wanting to die and thinking the surgery would be the way out. If there is some possibility he could get the heart done and then get the hernia done it would be worth an evaluation, but it's not appropriate to repeatedly head for the ER for a chronic problem that has not changed, you would have to go see the surgeon in an office visit! Honestly if someone agrees to do surgery for him have him evaluated and treated for depression first too, so he has the strength and desire to get back up and recover. If surgery is not at all an option, there are some old-fashioned supports (Google "hernia trusses") that some of the older orthotists would have some experience with and might make him more comfortable...not sure how much help the over-the counter varieties would be or if he's tried that already. Sorry you are in this mess and sorry Dad has to obsess over how bad he is feeling instead of doing what he could do to make anything better...
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Hello DV: Have you reached your 'breaking-point' yet? There are 4 of us siblings giving care to my 94 yr old mom. The siblings don't even cooperate nor get along... some are suspicious and eye-balling the "will"... "me"? I guess it's all about the "guilt" I will feel when she passes on... But even that, is losing it's power. She is very suspicious and secretive. My young brother took her out of state for several days and told her not to inform 2 of us. He is the favorite son so she didn't tell me nor my brother. We were frantic wondering where she was for 3 1/2 days! Sometimes, you gotta follow the "Serenity Prayer" : God Grant me the serenity to ACCEPT THE THINGS I CANNOT CHANGE; to CHANGE the things I CAN... and the wisdom to know the difference. I've been at this for 2 years.. I'm exhausted and unappreciated by my mother.. nor by my siblings. It has destroyed any bonds that existed in the family!
In my case (which seems strangely similar to yours), I don't think I can "change" a G D thing. I think it's time to abandon ship for my own sanity! She don't need a "son"... she needs another "slave" who won't talk back!
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Although I have not walked in your shoes, I have been a nurse to dozens of patients with family members. The carpeting issue is real. The FDA has deemed carpeting a carcinogen. I get an allergic reaction every time I am in a room with it, and will be replacing all the carpeting in the home we are buying in Sept. The previous two homes were all tile. At 87 yrs. I suspect your father has some dementia, and his behaviors are his way of controlling his life because he has lost his. You have two choices: either let him stay with his constant nagging about the surgery, etc., or put him in an assisted living facility. He does need care due to his eyesight and strangers will not have a relationship with him so he won't be trying to manipulate them. If you and your family are suffering, then you must think of your family first and him second. He will get good care and he will make friends at a facility too which will occupy his mind so he won't be fixating on his aches/pains. Best wishes...
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John B, nothing with my father is that easy. I did take the keys, I have them in a safe deposit box. However, my father went to a mechanic, told them he lost his keys and arranged for a tow truck to come get the car to cut a new key for him. Of course, I intercepted the transaction and removed the car physically from my house, so he wouldn't try anything else. In addition, I got his signed title and the car is currently up for sale. He is impossible! It is like living with an overgrown toddler.
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Dee Marie thanks for your input. I thought the assisted living facility we went to was great. It was clean, well equipped and reasonably priced. Let's face it, the money is a huge consideration. He expressed the idea that he felt in jail here as well, so I was hoping against hope that he would like it and leave in a reasonable manner. Sadly, there are not many options for assisted living that fall within his price range and he is not eligible for any government assistance. So, when he complained about the "allergic reaction" at that facility, there are not a host of places to visit that might fit the bill for him in his price range. It is a real problem. He can't function independently and even if he could, in his physical condition no one in their right mind would rent an apartment to him. He is an accident waiting to happen i.e falls, leaving the gas on, stove, cooking etc.. Assisted living is the way to go, hopefully when we revisit the idea and I am sure we will, he will give it a go.
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As far as the car goes, take the keys or remove the battery from the car....problem solved.
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All of your posts sound like what we are going through with my father inlaw. He was diagnosed with Alzheimers about 5 years ago. Going on 3 years ago, his lady friend that he lived with out of state pretty much dumped him into our laps when she couldn't deal with him anymore. He lived with us for almost 2 years until we couldn't take it anymore and he is now in assisted living for almost 10 months. We did everything for him, but he thought we did nothing to help him. He wouldn't listen to us and would go out when it was cold without a coat, etc, and was in the hospital twice with pneumonia. He said that he wanted to get his own place because he was in a prison here, but he cant cook, pay bills, take his pills correctly, we were at our wits end. Every time we go visit, all we hear is that he hates it there, just eats and sleeps, nothing to do. He always complains about his skin and any other little thing bothering him. We feel bad when we go once a week, but we know he cant come back here, we cant allow it. It was really taking a toll on our health. Everyone at the home says that he is pleasant and talks to everyone, plays cards, games, etc, and that he just acts that way when we visit. Good luck in finding an answer for your situation....which sounds so much like ours was and still could be.
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Wow, I am overwhelmed and overjoyed with all the support. I too would never, ever want my children to go through what I am going through with my father. My husband and I have made provisions so that they never have to make these awful decisions for us. It is unbelievable to what degree my life is on hold for his. I know he is my parent, but his long life shouldn't cost me years and years of my life. I would love to know how it feels to just pick up and go away for a carefree weekend with my husband and kids. Every excursion we ever went on has to be carefully orchestrated and I have to make sure my all father's needs are handled before I leave. The longest I have ever been away is 3 days and usually I get the call from my brothers that my father had some catastrophe thus ruining the few days I am away. I would love to not have to narrate every minute of my life so he doesn't worry about how long he will be alone. I would love to come home from work and not hear the song and dance about how awful he feels and what I need to do to help him. I would love to enjoy anonymity like my siblings do. They come and go as they please without having to inform the world where they are, how they can be reached, etc.. Life is unfair. Thanks to all for the support and kind words.
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OMG how I can relate. The constant complaining, never satisfied...oh the pain in my arm, leg, jaw, you name it and there must be a cloud out there somewhere even on the brightest sunniest days. The food is too salty and I don't use salt on her food. She spits out the oatmeal complaining it's full of hulls. She's been to every specialists and they can't understand what's going on with her. As for my siblings, well let's just leave it at that. They are not good children to my mother because they are busy enjoying life.

I know this is not an answer but I just wanted you to know, you are not alone.
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Your father agreed to certain conditions in order to remain in your home. Has he gone back on his word? Is he really capable of keeping his agreements? What is this doing to your marriage? It's a difficult situation and I sympathize with your hesitation in finding an appropriate facility for him. But that's the right thing to do, isn't it? Blessings to all concerned during this challenging time.
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I have been there for years. The hardest thing we ever did was put my father in law in a nursing home. He had no choice. He went from the hospital straight there. Things have not changed one bit, but, at least we can walk out the door, have a good cry, and go home to some peace. It is tough, but, the people who work in most nursing homes really DO care. They are trained in these matters and can handle the patients. The doctors are there to help and it is a win win for everyone involved. They may not do the activites and may not enjoy it, but, at least they have the opportunity to do so if they change their mind.
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There are more people in your type of situation than you realize. It is really hard to know what to do. Usually all the work does fall on one person while the others stand by and "applaud" or whatever. Maybe your dad needs a distraction. Are there any day centers for elderly in your area that he could go to? A lot of time when elderly are home a lot they become very self-involved with all their health issues, etc etc.. Maybe he needs outside activities or someone coming in to your home to do some activity with him, at least. When my mom goes to her day center, it is a break for both of us. A kind lady also comes once a week to take her out to eat, which she loves to do.
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dvhenal, I just read your post and I had a thought. If your Dad were younger, healthier, normal, would he want you to suffer so? If no, then he probably would want to be in assisted living. If yes, then he probably SHOULD be in assisted living.

I would never want one of my children to suffer at my hands because I either 1. couldn't help my behavior or 2. could help my behavior.

My snarky mother always told my brother and I she wants to go to a nursing home or assisted living, she doesn't want to be a problem to her children. So all of our lives she hoarded her and Dad's money to be used for her nursing care. Of course I realize that this was an excuse to be cheap. But guess what? She has made her wishes known and they will be honored.

It must be hard through when the parent does not want to go to an assisted living facility. That would be a challenge for sure. Good luck to you.
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Feeling your pain. 2 weeks ago I sat for 6 hours in an ER with my mother because her back pain was so horrible.She thinks that I also am hiding a miracle cure.She is on 120mg morphine a day.I knew her pain doctor wasn't going to increase the dose. I took her to the ER just in case she actually might have had a small fracture somewhere,she has osteoporosis,but the CT was clear.After a while she was watching TV in the ER and complaining that the sound wasn't good on it.After she found out the MD wouldn't increase the dosage home we went.She can only have her steroid injections at certain time intervals.So for now when she starts obsessing on her many complaints of pain I tell her all I have to offer is the ER and that seems to cure her for a while.She is what I call a narcissistic passive aggressive personality.She will find the complaint of the day.
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Your father doesn't have dementia, so why do you tolerate the bad behaviour. Call him on it. I don't care how old or sick you are. you don't get to act like an asshole. Be honest. Tell him it is not your job to keep him entertained. That he should find something that interests him.

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He said he was allergic to the carpeting and felt tightness in his chest while in there. (Just plain anxiety if you ask me). It isn't, if you have an autoimmune disease new carpet smell makes you very ill. i have Multiple Sclerosis, and new carpet gives off fumes that make me deathly ill.
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Amen, dvhenal!
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Oh my goodness, JessieBelle you can relate to my situation to a tee. My father is the same way. If it's not his hernia, it's his asthma, allergies, stuffy nose, the weather, the clouds, the temperature in my house, his arthritic back the list goes on and on. The common denominator is he is never content and, like your mother, views every situation as if I am keeping him from some miracle cure for all that ails him. I have told him, if I could help wouldn't I? Do you think it is fun for me to hear you complain every minute of every day? That is the narcissism again. It is all about him. There will never be an end to his obsessions because that is what keeps him going. His world has become so small that his obsessions is all he has. For someone with a narcissistic personality to begin with, this is a complete disaster. My problems and responsibilities should take a back seat to any of his needs. I walk away as well and find myself spending most of my days upstairs in my house hiding from him. I have to say, more than guilt, I resent this situation. This is MY HOUSE. He contributed in no way financially or otherwise to enable me to live here. My husband and I have graciously cared for all his needs in our home and I have to limit access to certain parts of my house to avoid hearing about his unending obsessions in order to save my sanity. Add to that, my siblings' complete hands off approach to our father's care which gives me no respite at all. There is no sense in insisting they help, it just gives me more stress when there are a million excuses why this weekend or that is not good for them. It stinks. I have to be available 24/7 to cater to his every whim and they can't spare an hour. I feel trapped, overworked and unappreciated from all sides. I am a teacher and believe me, I can't wait to go back to work to escape this nightmare for 6 hours a day. I can honestly say, I did not enjoy my summer off at all. It is quite sad really. Again, thanks for the ear. It is very hard to talk to anyone about this because like you pointed out, most people feel bad for the old person. We caregivers are shunned and made to feel like awful, heartless children. I say walk a mile in our shoes, then express your opinion. Their tune would surely change.
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dvhenal, I know just what you're talking about. Mine will pick out one thing that is not fixable, then focus on it like it is the thing that is going to take her to her grave. And if I were a good daughter, I would take her to every doctor in town until I found one that could give her a drug that would fix the problem. For the past year, it has been idiopathic itching that happens in a lot of older people. The cure for it is to stop scratching, but she won't. She wants a magic pill or salve to save her. I'm just a terrible daughter and walk away now when she talks about itching. I'll not take her to another doctor so he/she can say stop scratching.

Anytime we talk or when we set down to dinner, it takes about 5 minutes for the conversation to turn to her problem. Our conversations are very short. She has totally driven me away.

I don't have any advice for you, because I have a feeling you just needed to talk about it. It is hard to find someone to talk to. Even now I feel like someone is going to chime in "Poor mother. It must be terrible to itch like that." Grr -- they better not dare.

Caregiving is a really good example of "no good deed goes unpunished." Sometimes the only thing we can do is walk away from the unending obsessions with health if nothing can be done. The bad thing is we can end up feeling so angry and guilty when we have to walk away so much. Why do they do this to us? Good sense flies out the door when some people get old.
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you are more than welcome. I know you would say the same to me.
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Linda, great point. He will be miserable with me or without me. I'm better off with the break. I'm going to give it a try. Thanks for the shoulder.
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Well, let him be anti social somewhere else for a while. It is not going to kill him. Exhausted is not a good look on you! LOL. You need to get away from him and he needs time away from you. Tell him that you are dropping him off at a senior center for 3 hours and he can sit in a corner there and sulk or tell everyone else what a horrible child he raised! Then do it. It will be a struggle each and every time, for a while. There are 100 reasons that he won't want to go, there is only 1 for him going. YOUR HEALTH!
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Palmtrees, my husband and I were hoping that our visit to assisted living with him would either scare him straight or he would love it and want to stay. Neither has happened. I can't bear the thought of physically removing him from my home against his will. I do not want my children to witness such a scene either. However, I am a realist and know full well that is where we are headed if things don't change for the better. Thanks for the ear.
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Spokane, I agree with the idea of "sameness" However, my father is anti social. He will not go to senior citizens center. He never had a big circle of friends, but they are all deceased and now that he is hard of hearing he finds communicating very difficult. He has no interest in the lives of anyone but himself. He tends to fixate from one thing to another. I try my best to just avoid these "hot" topics with him, but day after day it is exhausting.
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