My Dad has mild dementia and has balance issues. He is supposed to be receiving therapy, but either he refuses the therapy or my Mom does because she is jealous that he is receiving extra attention. I suspect she has dementia, too. I don't know where to turn. try to help them, but they seem to be making it harder for me. What can I do? When I'm not working or with them I cry all of the time because I don't know where to turn. I would appreciate any help
The fact that you have found only marginally competent psychiatrists and did not like what the geriatric doctor had to say (that not much could be done, medically, presumably after enough lab work to know that's accurate) does not mean you can count on things to stabilize, nor that you can safely write off the entire medical profession and healthcare providers as worthless.
Getting labeled with "dementia" can help in terms of getting POA activated and being able to insist on care being provided. It can help put you in the driver's seat where you increasingly will need to be, instead of going home to cry because you are feeling so totally helpless as they can block your every effort to be of any real service.
You and they are not ready to give up independence or accept help yet. For the moment, it is still OK. But, before it becomes not OK, you need to start learning everything you can about eldercare and about your parents' options and resources.
Do you have their POAs for finances and for healthcare in order? Do you know where the important papers are?
Do they have income or property that would put them over Medicaid limits?
Have you already been to your Area Agency on Aging and/or an estate planner or eldercare attormey?
There is still time to work on these things and if you are anything like me when I had to start this process, its a steep learning curve. And hard, emotionally, to put on those big girl panties and objectively face up to your parents eventually needing you to become the decision-making adult in their lives. You've come to the right place to learn more and get support from those of us who have been through this and learned the hard way. Well, OK - there is no EASY way, really. Hugs.
When you say that folks you know have declined quickly upon moving to a facility, there's no doubt that that often happens. The more cognizant of the move the elder is, though, the better chance they have of making an adjustment. It's an argument for moving elders sooner rather than waiting until they are having dangerous difficulties at home.
It sounds as though you've got some preconceptions about elder care that may be based on what you've heard, what your parents remember from the past and what your PARENTS' preconceived ideas are. My mother had an absolute horror of "those places". We moved her into independent living because we could no longer respond to her daily "emergencies " and still maintain our jobs and sanity.
We realized that we "the kids" were the grownups in the room and that the fact that mom was complaining about cost, being an "inmate" etc., didn't mean that we didn't know that it was the right move at the right time. We knew what was best, in the same way that mom did when she sent us off to school, whether or not we wanted to go.
Have you thought about finding them a Geriatrics doctor? One who specializes in the care of the elderly? They ( and you) might be getting better treatment and advice. Is mom being seen by a geriatric psychiatrist? She sounds as though she's quite depressed from your description.
So, what does their doctor say they need? Do you go to appointments with them? Is the doctor aware of your dad's refusal of therapy? S/HE should be. You need to send a note to the office and say that you need this information to be discussed at dad's next appointment.
Whatever their living situation, it sounds like they need a higher level of care, and where your mom can be kept busy so she's not interfering. Have you looked into facilities?
You can call your local area agency on aging and find out about local resources. Would mom enjoy going to a senior center to make new friends?