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Putting toe in water very gently....


Meeting for review of care options schedulted for next week. Previously attended set up & reviews but am not POA, medical decision maker, decision support person, nominee on care plan - nuffin'. (Was at one stage a nominee but they lost my info...). Not even sure of capacity to arrange.


FEEL like not going. Why waste time getting info, deciding things when I have no authority to make any decisions/actual changes.


GUILT says I should go. Be informed. Show I'm there for her *in her corner*. A lot of my suggestions are now (nearly 2 years) being acted on slowly slowly.


If I don't go, it leaves Dad to muddle through alone (although he did enable the whole situation to get where it is).


If I do go, will I undo all the brilliant unmeshing I have achieved these last few months?


Am I strong enough yet that if responsibilities that aren't mine are dumped all over me again, I can simply return them to sender?

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Beatty: It may be in your best interests to attend the fam meeting. Then you can put your two cents in/have a voice in the matter - yea or nay, good or no good.
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What's a POA? My family has never heard of this??

Seriously though, just to clarity: no POA for any of them, no living will, no advance care directives *no matter who tells them it's a good idea*.

So I've told them I will just guess what care/treatments they would like if I have to. So be it.

Dad is well now - but huge carer stress. If he goes down, I am next of kin for Mother & Sister. Mum can decide her own medical treatment apparently (per Doctor's letter) but suppose I am next of kin for Dad too. I've taken legal advice & been advised both Mum & Sister are deemed to have capacity until proved otherwise. I would need to apply for guardianship for both. Good grief. But I'll do it. That's the future...

I have a chosen nursing home to drop all 3 off if required & have told them. They think I'm joking - I am definately not.

Hopefully Dad stays well & gets to enjoy some retirement before then.
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Who does have the POA? Maybe you should go to get information for this person... or inform this person of days and times for health care planning. If there is no POA, are you the next of kin? Then you have the responsibility and usually the authority to act on your dad's behalf in most states.

Decide on what level of involvement you need/want to have: just be informed about his care plan, make suggestions, help voice dad's values and desires...

If dad was to die today (God forbid) what would make you feel comforted in your role in his care? Do what helps him and brings kindness, love and joy into the situation.
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Given the past circumstances, it appears to be in YOUR best interest to be at this meeting. To make it crystal clear to all involved that you are now and never will be a part of the care team for any of them — sister, mother, or father. I know it sounds harsh; it is called self-preservation.
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Sounds like, since you have no authority, there is no real reason to go.
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See, there's the thing, Beatty. Likely dad and/or Sis are mis-representing the level of support available, either from embarresment, confusion or...whatever. YOU need to be there in person so say "H double hockeysticks --"NO" I won't be doing THAT!"
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Beatty Oct 2019
My oh my YES! Or maybe a ping pong paddle to bat each new silly idea right back... Game on.

Oh I needed that laugh! Thanks!!!
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When I'm conflicted about getting involved, I ask myself: "If I were the care receiver and the quality of my care/life was utterly dependent upon the informed/right/wise decisions & actions of others, what would I want someone with influence to do on my behalf?" This is not guilt, but a moral filter for myself. Your decision seems affected by the messy history the care. I wish you clarity and peace in whatever you choose to do.
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Beatty Oct 2019
Dependent. Influence. Moral filter. Strong stuff but kindly put. Yes I sometimes get caught looking back at the messy history & you are very wise for pointing this out. The way is forward - on a new path. Advocacy. Thankyou.
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You say you wish not to go. Then I think that you should not go.
I would explain to your father that you are currently not involved in care plans for your Mom, so you will not attend UNLESS he wishes you to.
IF your Dad says he would like you to attend, then I feel it would be the decent thing to do for him and for your Mom.
IF I went I would ask to speak briefly. I would say "Currently I am not involved in any decision making or care plans for my Mom, but Dad asked me to attend; so here I am. Dad, if you would like my input on anything, I'm here. Just ask me. I understand that the decisions are yours to make. I will try to give my opinion and then let you make the decision." I would then tell the careplanners "I will let you know only if it is suggested that I can provide care in the future that I may not be able to".
If you aren't strong enough to do it in that way my advice is to NOT attend at all. It is a simply thing to say to Mom "Dad and you will be attending a plan for your future care. The decisions aren't mine to make; they are your decisions to make together. I will do all I can to honor those decisions with what time and care I can contribute." Big hug. Walk away and get a big coffee and a delicious sweet!
Good luck, hon. Whatever your decision hope you will let us know how it goes.
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I think you may want to bring your profile up to date. Its hard to look back on previous posts at this time.

I will assume you mean your sister. Does Dad have POA for her. If not, anybody?

I would be there to support Dad. Making it clear that you have no authority to make decisions. I went with Mom to doctor visits because she misinterpreted what the doctors said. Keep notes. Make sure Dad understands what is being said. Let the "powers that be" take over sister's care.

You can be supportive without taking on responsibility. If asked to, say sorry, I have a family that needs me and caring for my sister is a job on its own meaning my family suffers. Don't get bullied into something you don't want to do, it doesn't work out well. Go with those feelings. They r usually right. ☺
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MaryKathleen Oct 2019
How do you bring your profile up to date? I would like to change mine, we are older and I at least would like to correct our ages. I tried but couldn't figure it out.
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Hard to know how to advise. Need more information.
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JoAnn29 Oct 2019
She is a regular poster. So assuming everyone knows her story. Its now hard to go back because anytime we post, even as a reply goes into the one category.
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Are you talking about your mother's or your sister's care because your profile says you are (were?) caring for both of them? Who is her in "her corner"?

Where is this care meeting taking place?
Who invited you to the meeting?

Your profile also says that you got off the bus. You could go to the meeting to make sure that you stay off the bus. You also could write a letter and send it Priority Mail to where the care meeting is taking place addressed to the person who invited you to the meeting clearly stating that you are off the bus.
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Beatty Oct 2019
Sister. She lives alone - only 15mins away. I became her 'beck & call' person since Mum's stroke.

Meetings always held if possible at her apartment as she needs a support worker to drive her anywhere or risks falling if using a taxi (& I won't drive her anymore).

Invited to meeting by Dad.

I skipped the recent planning meeting but have spoken to & emailed the Care Coordinator - he understands my position & is clear about my future role.

I will take the advice to go. The last plan included statements like *substantial daily family support*. I will ensure this is corrected & accurate.
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I agree with CM. Go, because if you're not there, you run the risk of Dad and Sis saying "Oh, Beatty will do THAT!"

Make it clear to the agency that you are there as an advocate and not a planner or do-er.
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You could go, but not stay for the whole meeting. Can you invent some important appointment (emergency dental crisis, whatever) that would allow you to escape after stating firmly, “ whatever you all concoct, do NOT factor me in”? The “brilliant unmeshing” (wonderful phrase!) is GOLD in your life right now, so don’t even think about getting “enmeshed” again! Not your circus, not your monkeys.
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I should go, if only to make absolutely sure that the option of BeattyCare stays OFF the table. If your father attends this meeting alone then, even if he doesn't actually voice the thought, the thought that "it's okay, we'll have help (from you!), we'll manage somehow" will be running through his head and influencing his input to the plan.

You will also have the opportunity to run through your earlier suggestions and review progress on those.

Your role at the meeting is to keep everyone's mind concentrated on supporting your sister's function as an autonomous, independent adult as far as possible. Which means that NOT taking on responsibilities becomes your job. Will looking at it this way make it easier to see yourself as your sister's best and truest champion, instead of as a hard-nosed b-one-tch who doesn't want to know?
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Beatty Oct 2019
I don't know how you got so wise.. but I love it! I am going to re-read this when the effects of the Friday night happy hour pass & absorb fully... but I agree. Beattycare has morphed from nose to the *whatever* to *advocate*. This is the sweet spot.
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