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I wish I could say yes, but no. We moved my mom, with Stage 4 Dementia, in with us just over a year ago. It was going okay until my husband and I took a five-week vacation alone figuring we'd return home rested, reconnected, and renewed. Not at all how we envisioned it. Mom came back to our home with a rather poor and argumentative attitude and we are both stressed out more than before our vacation. Her memory lapses are inconsistent and sometimes I wonder if she's pulling my leg. She disrespects my husband's space and when he calls her on it, her response is, "Can't you take a joke?" um, the wrong thing to say. He has been wonderfully tolerant throughout the past year, but now, neither of us has any patience. I find myself dreading her bedroom door opening. I can't tolerate hearing another, "When I was a kid. . ." story. I've been taking care of her in various manners since my dad passed away 10 years. Now, I feel I'm through. There is no appreciation or recognition of anything we do for her, only endless bodily noises, fights to get her into the shower and to brush her teeth, contrariness, and annoyance. It is ruining my health and peace of mind. I am now looking for a place for her. There is a little guilt, but what I've come to realize is that I am not a caretaker--at least not for people who won't put forth an effort to do for themselves. When I feel guilty about my impatience these days, I realize I need to care for myself. I just want to be her daughter again--not her mother. Sorry for venting but this is a forum where I know others will understand.
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I understand completely. It is hard to keep caring for someone who is showing so much disrespect. Whether it is because personality or it is because dementia, it is hard to live with continual disrespect. Hope you can find a good place for her soon. You'll probably be able to go back to a friendly relationship after a couple of months living apart.
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Without a doubt..yes.

I know I made their final years so much better. Their wish was to stay in their home. I made that wish come true. Those are a huge comfort to me now that they have both passed.

I am not saying it wasn't a difficult challenge for me. And, I do not recommend most people go down that road. I had a lot of in-home caregivers coming in ..so I had a lot less stress then most others. My parents were financial very secure and so the payment of additional support service was no issue.

I am glad I did it.
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I often wonder if I made the right choice in bringing my brother home to care for him, yet when I do a play over in my thoughts I know I did. That brings me some comfort on this 6 year roller coaster ride which it's been.

He was living alone, 1000 miles away, struggling with early onset ALZ at 65. So called friends were a joke when it came to aiding him; they were taking advantage of him, making light of all the mishaps. Life for him was becoming an accident waiting to happen, they thought humor was the answer.

Brother/sister dynamics were always a struggle, his choice. I always wanted to fix our relationship, did I think I could win over ALZ? That wasn't to be. The trials & tribulations a caregiver goes thru is many, it's not just bonding moments we crave. They creep up, often by surprise, they keep us going. We know we made the right decision.

It's a personal choice we make at a time when things are less than perfect. We shouldn't ? ourselves so. Remember the circumstances you faced & how you persevered. You did good, da** good, in adversities too many to mention.

Blessings 🌸
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I know I've already answered this (a resounding yes) but I feel like adding more. Some of this is cultural. I grew up with at least one grandparent in the house since I was four years old. My maternal grandmother died suddenly and unexpectedly. My grandfather, being deaf and blind (though he did have a hearing aid) came to live with us. He and my father were not the best of friends, but they managed to get along. At once time, my paternal grandmother came to live with my parents because she had dementia and my paternal grandfather (being much older than she) was not able to care for her. In the end, she did get violent and pushed my maternal grandfather who (also being much older, blind, and developing Parkinson's) fell to the ground. Clearly, no matter how much they wanted to, my parents could not keep her at home. At some point my two grandfathers were both living with my parents. My parents never argued about their parents. They were brought up in such a way that family - the whole family - is important and one does whatever they can to care for the elders. They did, of course, discuss things concerning the grandparents but they never argued. They worked together to solve their problems.
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I am not sure if I'll be sorry for taking my mom in. I am hoping I'll feel a sense of duty fulfilled as I did with my dad. The only thing I wish I would have waited longer to have her move in with us or I would have been smarter with the lawyers. Right now I teeter from feeling great compassion at my mom's dementia to being angry this has been put on me instead of shared with my siblings. Makes me not want my children to feel like this.
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I'm not sorry I tried to take care of my mom in my home. It did however, become more than I could handle after a stroke and multiple falls. She is now in a nursing home not far from me. We went through several months of her thinking she was coming home and my guilt knowing that was not possible. Now that we've gotten past that our time visiting together is pleasant without all the stress and resentment.
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Mamasidd, I just wanted to add to that I appreciate you bringing up your thinking your mom's dementia is inconsistent and it feels as if she is pulling your leg.
I feel that way with mom. Some days she is smart enough to maneuver her last few dollars around from accounts she had opened for grandchildren to give to my stupid brother and the next day she can't figure out what to have for dinner. I have wondered is part of this an act?
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This might not help anyone but since I put Ray on the 30 Billion Probiotics, his thinking has cleared up considerably.

There is a correlation from the gut to the brain. I believe Ray (almost 96 years old) was dealing with Candida Overgrowth and the probiotics and Candida Support has really helped. It also helped with his appetite, he's eating real foods again.

There are many out there but the one I chose is only $14.80 and enough for both of us for the month - yes, I feel better too. The one I decided to try is Shelf Stable (refrigeration not supposed to be needed) Healthy Origins Natural Probiotic 30 Billion CFU's and the Candida Support is by NOW and about $20 for 2+ months for each of us.

I would recommend trying Probiotic's on anyone exhibiting symptoms of Dementia - I can still remember back in the 70's when it was linked to poor nutrition but you no longer hear about that.

Some of the stories on here say that Mom-Dad-Whomever has always been abusive. Well, it's still worth a try I think. But I really can't say. Thankfully I have never been in an abusive relationship. But I have witnessed declining nutrition in the elderly. Sweet just tastes better :) than veggies, lol. Yes, to me too.
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