Debo7893 Asked March 2015
Nursing home or not?
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Hi this is my first time actually asking a question but I do read alot of the forum. I am really going through some distressing issues about whether or not to place my parents in a nursing home or continue taking care of them at my home. My mom has CHF, COPD, diabetes and is legally blind. She is on Hospice and has been for about 2 years now. She is experiencing quite a bit of swelling (from water retention) and this morning she has blisters on her legs and is weeping. I am totally homebound and have been for a few years now and I am going crazy. I feel like a prisoner in my own home. I do everything for both of them, all they do is sit in their chairs and watch TV. I am very conflicted and would like some input. thanks
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Countrymouse - Right! It is so amazing how they can sit back in their own homes and judge me. Don't help, don't call, just ignore me until I call to report something then tell me how I have a place in heaven for what I am doing. Don't they understand that I do not need their encouragement about where I will end up in the afterlife, I need help NOW. I have plans to not only tell them to go and whatever themselves but to also tell them if they don't like it they can bring their happy as... up here and get them and take care of things themselves. Thank you for your encouraging words.
Please let us know what you decide and how this progresses. We care!
You've spent the last 14 years, since you were 44, taking care of your mother and your father in your home which is very commendable. \
As you prepare to turn a new page ask yourself what do you want your life to look like in 20 or 30 more years? What would you like to accomplish and your husband like to accomplish in the next 20-30 years?
In other words, as you make the transition form being the primary caregiver to the primary advocate for your parents, you'll have a broader horizon before you with a big "What now?" question staring you in the face because the old answer for "What now?" will not be there as big as it once was.
Now the doctors are saying that they need more medically than what you and your husband can provide. At the same time, you need a major break from all that you have been doing. It may not be what they want, but it's what they need. That's where the pivotal change of role reversal for the adult child to aging parent takes place in the transition from want to need.
You can't fulfill their every want, but you can provide what they need in terms of care and safety that three shifts of people working 8 hours in a 24 hour day can provide which is not humanly possible for two people to do. In the long run, everyone will be better off once the transition is made.
Has the doctor explained the need for them to go to skilled care to them directly? If not, it would very likely be best for them to hear it from their doctor first.
Yes, it will be difficult on them because they have become so dependent upon you two, but it will also be difficult for you because being the direct caregivers has provided so much meaning and direction in your life that taking care of them has become a major part of you and that so much so it is driving you crazy.
They need the medical care that skilled place can provide 24/7. Ya'll need some greatly needed restored balance returned into your lives which you have plenty of years ahead of you still to live active lives.
You've done a great job of doing what is humanly possible for two people to do. You have nothing to feel guilty about unless you want to feel guilty for not being superwoman and superman. Yes, it is a hard thing to do, but they need more help than you two can provide and ya'll are burning out. To me, the biggest question is are ya'll ready for them to go to a nursing home? If not, then why not?
Take care and keep in touch.
Our elderly parents don't like any kind of change, even when it's good for them. Why should your parents want to go somewhere else, when you're meeting their every need? But that care for them comes at a great cost to you. I doubt your parents would knowingly choose to run you into the ground.
Now is the time to make that change. You should NOT feel guilty - you've done more than your share in taking care of your parents. And you can still be their strong advocate and loving daughter - just not their hands-on caregiver.
Pardon the analogy, but the guilt crap sounds so deep that it sounds like you just need to find some higher ground where you can step out of it and live on a new plane.
You are a good person. It sounds like you had some growing experiences which some of us have more than others, but we all make mistakes that we must learn from. I made a majority of my mistakes while I was in college as well as in graduate school and I've learned form them.
I've know some online whose goal was to love their elderly mom or dad into being the non abusive loving parent that they never were and did it work. No!
I'm sorry that you spent 14 years trying to prove that you are the good person that you are. A person who did not have a good heart would have never tried to be the caregiver that you have been.
Sounds like you have all the ingredients in place. Now to just find a good place and make it so like they say on Star Trek. I'm glad our responses have brought you the validation that you need and will continue to need. Please keep in touch and we will keep cheer leading you through this ordeal. If you make some mistakes and sort of backslide into the mire of the guilt again, remember that it is baby steps that will get you out of that stuff and back up on some higher solid ground. If and when you make a mistake, recognize it for what it is, learn from it, refuse to beat yourself up over it and move forward. The main thing is to maintain a focus on walking on a healthier path than has been true in the past.
Good luck!
So, I would say yes. It is time for them to go to a nursing home.
What has their doctor said about where they need to be?
What is your husband's opinion and feelings about this situation? I would imagine that with your children grown with families of their own that he's ready for ya'll to be a couple once again now that your nest is empty.
Take care of yourself and keep in touch.
Unless you come from a family of medical professionals, who understand all these medical issues from A-Z, I really feel it is long over due for your parents to move to a continuing care facility. Think about it this way, could you care for your parents for another 3 years, 5 years, or 10 years?
Please note that 1 out of every 3 caregiver dies leaving behind the person they were caring. What would happen to your parents? Would your husband have to quit work and care for them plus babysit the grandchildren?
With a nursing home, your parents would be around others of their own generation, oh my gosh imagine them talking to others about the music of their era that the person could also relate to, political figures that they grew up with, old movies they all enjoyed. Going to the dining room for lunch and/or dinner and dining with new found friends.
Thus, think positive about this... shovel that guilt into a closet and lock the door.
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