Today was Christmas. Mom called him and he didn’t want to talk. He has good “lucid” days and bad days. Because of COVID, there was no discussion of leaving the center. The nurse said he had packed all of his belongings. I’m mad at the nurse for telling Mom, frankly.
Don't try to block the sadness. Were you Mom's FRIEND you would say "Oh, Joyce, I am soooo sorry. This must hurt you so much. Let yourself have a good cry". But you are family. So you ALSO suffer from "fix-it"; you pick up the luggage. You can't stand Mom's grief.
Please just know that there is no way not to grieve this. Allow the grief. Tell Mom that you feel such pain for them both, and so wish this didn't have to be the way of things.
I am sorry as well. But now I can say that and walk away. You can't. You are grieving as well. Honestly there is nothing to do about this fact, when we live so long that eventually they get everything from us, our choices, our dignity, our very brain which makes us who and what we are, while our bodies must go on.
Why are you mad at the nurse?
Is your mom your dad’s POA/legal representative?
Has your mother told you why she feels guilty? If she wants her husband to receive the care he needs, she has NO REASON to feel anything but support for her (and your?) decision to get him the best help she could, and presumably, he’s receiving care for his problems where he is.
Most newly placed residents say they want to leave or go home and many pack or attempt to leave on their own. It is the sometimes painful position of the responsible parties to support the residents need to stay, or to temporarily back out of the discussion and let the staff deal with managing the resident’s agitation.
Unfortunately, Christmas can be a VERY difficult day in a nursing home, and Covid has made things MUCH WORSE.
Honestly the nurse did what would reasonably expected of her, and what I would expect if my LO had a problem, holiday or not.
I’m terribly sorry you and your mom were upset. There is no easy way to deal with our Loved Ones when problems arise. Perhaps considering a small amount of mood stabilizing medication might be helpful if Dad continues to have upsets.
The leaving idea their brain has might come and go often, or might last only a couple weeks. So don’t be surprised about this anymore then you would be concerned about a child saying they don’t want to stay in kindergarten. A child might even have a temper tantrum, but that passes too. Only difference now is dealing with an adult that’s brain is much like a child’s most times. A brain that can not understand what is needed for their safety along with so many other things. Just know you are doing everything you can for that.
Best wishes in your journey
I am sorry your Mom has to go through this stress and confliction. Remind her of the great care your Dad has and care that would emotionally and physically take a toll on your Mom. Remind her it is normal. Maybe find written articles about it being normal. It probably won't help with the guilt but might lessen it some if she knows many residents have the same feeling.
It is hard on everyone. Everyone is going to feel guilty from time to time. That is also normal. Sending good wishes to all.
I remember the guilt I had when I first had to put my mom into a facility. Understanding the ups and downs as well as the constant changing in the thinking process of my mother was a roller coaster for sure. Something that helped me is what someone told me here on this site. We all want what is best for our dear loved ones and do everything we can to give them that. Sometimes giving them our best is realizing that we need help from others. It helped me to see that putting my mother in a facility was giving her the best care I could possible give her, and after all, isn't that what we all want. That is what your mother has done. Confusion and wanting to leave, as many others have explained here, is something that happens often. Each day will have a new challenge. A wise person once said "So never be anxious about the next day; for the next day will have its own anxieties. Each day has enough of its own trouble." (Matthew 6:34) Take it one day at a time. Bad days will happen, but the next day will be different and likely your Dad will forget whatever happened before and you will end up being the only one that is stressing over it.
If he continues to pack his bag then a simple explation such as "Oh not today honey. I'll help you when it is time to go" may be all it takes. And from experience, altho it is sometimes hard to hear what the nurses tell us about what is happening with our loved ones, you want all the information you can get. The opposite, never knowing what is going on, is a terrible position to be in.
Hang in there and keep on this wonderful site. Love and best wishes go out to you both.
Mom refuses my help to help her especially her health but she tells everyone I took all their monies and now she has nothing. I’ve asked her many times what does she need or can I help with anything. I haven’t touched her monies. She moved out of the house staying with family. They are leading her astray and bad advice. While dad was at home I had to stay down there for almost a week day and night to be referee/ go in between. Dad couldn’t get sleep cause mom would do vacuuming, empty garbage cans , laundry at 3am. Mom would push her body against dads then say he’s hitting me he’s hitting me. She had the hallway behind her. I said mom just back up, she would not. I then put my arm around dad and I told him, let’s make peace. Let’s go into the living room and sit down. He did... Dad has placed his personal item / items down in a certain spot. When dad walked to another room, Mom has taken those items and hid them or threw them away. Dad says where did you put my stuff or he’d say did you get my stuff that was here. She’d say I never touched your stuff. I found out through her she had used a spoon or salad tongs etc to move items. She is now playing the fence between me and family/ community. She is the proud mom on how good I’m doing (towards me) TO she’s the victim wife and I’m horrible person who is taking everything away from her and I won’t let her see her husband (to the rest of the world). I have been looking into another facility that will take his insurance and the veterans affairs might help pay for..... The veterans affairs placed him beginning Dec didn’t stay 24 hrs had to send to hospital. Only been back close to two weeks. Any advice, tips, contacts would be greatly appreciated.