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I have a family situation that I am extremely concerned about and don't know what to do. I could really use some advice. My parents are in their early 80's and took my older sister (age 47) into their home 5 months ago to care for her. My sister has Lupus, but 1 year ago she really went down hill. She took to her bed and stopped eating. She refused to go to the doctor. Her husband finally took her to the ER after she fell down the stairs and gashed her head. At the hospital they found stage 4 bedsores on her sacrum. One was the size of a silver dollar and down to the bone. She developed osteomylitis. She weighed 100 lbs. She was put in a nursing home and after six months used up all the insurance benefits (it was a very nice one in California.) Her husband said he was unable to care for her so my parents took her in (they live in Oregon.) She starting receiving excellent medical care, was put on Lexapro and seemed to be getting better. However, any time anyone would mention "wow, you are doing great." or tell her she was getting better and start expecting her to do more things, she would suddenly take a turn for the worse. Examples: She was unplugging her wound vac and her sores would get infected again...she developed pancreatitis and diverticulitis but would refuse to eat right and then end up back in the hospital...she won't do PT because it "hurts too much" and was still using a walker after 5 months. At Thanksgiving when we were all together and the walker started getting too easy and my brother mentioned that perhaps it was time to graduate to a cane, she had a "fall" and is now back in a wheelchair. She won't even use her arms to move the chair, she insists my parents push her! She uses a bedside commode. If she had cooperated with PT she should be getting herself to the bathroom on her own by now. A few weeks ago the hospital discharged her to transitional care in a nursing home because she needed IV antibiotics every 6 hrs for yet another infection. She called my parents at 6 a.m because "she couldn't stand it and wasn't getting any sleep." They immediately went to pick her up and take her home. My mother would get up at night to administer her antibiotics. My sister "was too squeemish to twist on the cap". When i visit my parents I see how exhausted they are. I've offered my help whenever I'm there and tried to tell them they need in home nursing care or she needs to be in a nursing home. I thought of moving her in to my home, but I have 3 kids, a full time job and a very small house. And My husband refuses to even be around her. Plus, She would have to establish with different doctors if she was here. It's like she WANTS to be an invalid. Her wounds are healed, her weight is normal her labs are good and she's on the right meds. Why does she keep making herself sick? Why does she refuse to do anything to get better? My parents refuse any help! They think they can do it all themselves. "We're family - it's our job!" So, they too are part of the whole sick situation! Please, have any of you ever encountered a situation like this? What can I do?

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Hi lindam, I think if you have concerns about this lady the best thing to do is treat them as your own family and just ask the questions. If you think you need to talk to the husband, you said he was still sharp, just put your cards on the table and be honest with him, he will appreciate it. If it is one of the kids you want to talk to do the same. You are with her all the time and know what to look for and her reactions. I think if it was me I would appreciate plain blunt honest talk. Of course, that is how I am anyway and I know most people aren't and sometimes it comes across as be abrasive, but if you think about it, write it down you will get it right, you have probably dealt with similar cases so that is my response.
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First of all,welcome to this sight. There are a lot of supportive and caring people here who will help you the best we can. You have a very difficult situation. Apparently your sister gets the "pay off" of being the center of attention.How sad for her and your parents.You may have to do some loving insistence that she be put in a full time health care facility. Your parents are worn out and doing what all loving parents do, but should not be at the expense of their health. What is her husband doing to help? Sounds as tho he needs to get more involved. Maybe you can contact him and see what he thinks or get him to sign over POA to you(if you want that responsibility) and see what can be done from there. Others will come on and make suggestions. You will be in my thoughts for a workable solution for everyone.
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