I just started caring for my mom and I am trying to keep my job. My sister lives 30 miles away and hasn't even invited my mom over to her house yet even though she has been in this area for 3 months. I am doing the vast majority of the work, cleaning, cooking, appointments, shopping, washing, exercise, etc. Sister has come over twice to go to the doctor and dentist and once to take her shopping. I have taken Mom to doctor 8 times and I have taken her shopping more than I can count. I need a break. Should I ask her to take mom at least for the day to her house to hang out so I can have time to myself? She refuses to let her stay overnight at her house. She gives some lame excuse about stairs, but my mom wouldn't have to use those stairs. She hasn't even invited her over for lunch. What is the deal? I am too tired to write anymore. I really need help. This is killing me emotionally, physically and financially while my sister just goes on her merry way taking trips, classes, doing everything and anything she wants. Frankly I hate her. I don't think I can get passed any of this. I just imagine being dead all the time. There is no way out. I hate my family.
You can't make a sibling who doesn't want to help - help.
You can't make a sibling care, when they don't.
However you ended up as your mothers caregiver- unless it was contingent upon and agreed upon that sister would help - this is the choice you made - even if it felt as if you really had no other choice.
Absolutely- it would be great if your sister would help out more - it's the right thing to do, afterall. BUT - this brings us full circle to - you can't make anyone help, who really doesn't want to.
So - now you're angry, frustrated and bitter over something that is likely not going to change - so quit hoping and thinking that it will. It won't. Honestly- the sooner you accept that, the better off you'll be.
About your sister: Sure, ask her if she can invite Mom over for a full day. Just don't be surprised or disappointed if she says No (with a lot of excuses, of course).
Acknowledge that caring for your mother was your decision, and it still is your decision. It sounds like you bit off more than you can chew (a VERY common scenario) and you need to reassess what you can realistically do alone (or with the minimal help your sister is willing to provide).
It seems to me the first thing to address is being able to sleep through the night. Why isn't Mom quietly in bed when you are?
When you are getting a good night's sleep most nights it is much easier to keep daytime situations in perspective. Sleep deprivation is used as a torture technique after all -- it is very disruptive to normal functioning. So first and foremost solve that.
If Mom can be safely on her own at night, then your need is to muffle the noise she makes. Put felt furniture pads on the walker legs. Wear ear plugs. Use white noise or soft music to distract you.
But if Mom has safety issues when she is up during the night and you can't safely just muffle the noise, then if she is having insomnia or other sleep issues, talk to her doctor about that. Make it clear that this is not a trivial issue, and that you being able to keep mom at home depends on solving the sleep issues.
I think the sleep issue comes first. Then you can consider other aspects of your decision to care for Mom. It doesn't have to be all or nothing. She could live with you but go to an adult day care center. You could have help come in several days a week. Definitely hire household help like cleaners and yard work, if applicable. It doesn't have to be all on your shoulders. (And in this regard consider yourself an only child.) Even if you ultimately decide that Mom needs a care center, that doesn't mean you give up all caregiving responsibility.
But first, solve the sleep problem.
Sisters shmisters. It's actually much more important to figure out how you're going to make your plan workable without other family members so that it doesn't particularly bother you if she doesn't contribute - and don't despair, there will be a way.
If you can tell us more about your Mom's needs, her age, etc others may have even more ideas.
Unfortunately, in my experience, once the siblings get another sibling in the position of being the caregiver they make themselves scarce.
I'm so sorry to hear what you are going through and that you are at the end of your tether. Please call social services or 911 if you are feeling this desperate. I know its not easy to have all the burden and responsibility. But please know there are resources in the community that can help. Don't be afraid to ask for help. It doesn't have to be your sister, other people will help you. Thinking of you.
Annabelle, it is not true that "there's nowhere else for her to go." If you had a terrible accident and had to be in hospital and then rehab for weeks and weeks, the hospital social worker would notify the appropriate agency and Mom would be taken care of. Right now you don't know your way around the agencies and solving it all yourself seems overwhelming. No -- it doesn't seem that way, it IS that way! You've given it your best effort. It is not working out.
There is a way out for you. Hang in there until mom's care can be sorted out, without YOU being the solution. The standard way to go about this is to call your county's Social Services and ask for a needs assessment for your mother and explain that you very definitely cannot continue to care for her. But that will take some time (they are often backlogged with such requests). I have a feeling that this is much more urgent.
Call APS (Adult Protection Services) and explain the situation. Tell them that you are doing your best to take care of your mother but that you cannot continue. You keep thinking of killing yourself to get out from under this burden. You don't want that to happen, but you are desperate. Can they help? Or put you in touch with an agency that can help?
Annabelle, there is way out. It may take some time to put into place, but hang in there! This can be resolved.
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