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96-years-old, no life threatening health issues but much more time consuming than sister can handle.

Fleur123, welcome to the forum. Question, is your Mom open to moving to a senior facility? Can Mom budget the monthly rent? Does Mom have any memory issues? Can Mom budget for a professional caregiver to come in for the 1st shift or whatever shift to help out your sister? My Dad was paying $1,600 per week for a caregiver.


If your Mom has no major physical or memory issues she could start out in an Independent Living apartment at a senior living facility. My Dad (95 at the time) was looking forward to moving from his house. He loved the senior place, being around people closer to his age. In my area, the cost back then was $5k per month which included weekly housekeeping and linen service, plus one meal in the restaurant style dining area. The place was so nice, I was ready to sign up :)


Then when my Dad was showing signs of sundowning dementia, and was wandering at night trying to leave the building, then we moved Dad to the Memory Care area. Dad's only concern was the food, he wanted the same chef as was in Independent Living. I assured him, yes, same chef, and 3 meals in the dining area :)
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Reply to freqflyer
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I think often one does better with "informing a senior" than in "talking with".
It comes down to Sis needing to sit with Mom and say:

"I know you aren't going to like this, Mom; and I am going to grieve this right along with you, because it is yet another loss for you to bear, but I cannot go on now with caregiving.
We are going to have to find as good a placement as we are able for you to live; I promise to be your faithful visiting daughter now for the duration. I don't ask you to be happy about this, because so much now at this time of life isn't about happiness; it's about our doing our best given our limitations."

Talking about suggests that there is a way out of this. There isn't. And a daughter moves quickly from being a darling daughter to a much loathed caregiver when she takes on the job. This is going to be full of heartbreak and angst. So much in life IS about that.

I wish you the best. Do this as gently as you are able whilst still remaining firm and NOT up for argument. This isn't a discussion. This is a fact.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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That's how you talk about it, or how your sister talks about it, to mom: Mom, I love you very much but I can no longer handle your care needs at my age, it's too much for me. So I'm going to go look at some lovely Assisted Living places and pick 2 I like best for you to choose from. Sister and I will visit often and there will be lots of activities for you to do there.

Present it as a fact, that she's moving out, and present it in a positive, upbeat way, because AL is like a hotel for seniors.

Good luck to you.
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Reply to lealonnie1
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