I'm talking about someone who simply refuses to walk. When my mother was 55 she stopped driving. When she was 60 she stopped walking. At least beyond her door. Whenever they left the house my father pushed her in a wheelchair. He died 16 years ago and I've been her caregiver. On numerous occasions she's been in physical therapy in hospitals and she does great. Then she comes home and oops. She can't walk. She is now 90.
The next day I joined Weight Watchers and by hook or by crook, I rarely miss a 1/2 hour weekly meeting (their support is unwavering). As of today, I've lost 30 lbs. and still would like to lose another 20. I had an epiphany that day and said to myself that I cannot take care of my elders if I didn't put me first.
So to all of us caregivers, I plead with you all to take care of your needs first. You deserve it.
Wow. Ramiller an cwillie are right of course. At this point her sense of entitlement has won out over any desire to be self-sufficient, and has been too strongly reinforced. You don't say where she is cognitively and it is probably hard to tell... Any little triumph over this sad set-up will be a real accomplishment!
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