Answered a question 1/24/2010 at 11:21 pm
Everything said before is absolutely true!!!! At my strong encouragement, we sold our house and moved 2 miles down the road to care for my father-in-law. He was a saint and a true Christian that I h
...Read MoreEverything said before is absolutely true!!!! At my strong encouragement, we sold our house and moved 2 miles down the road to care for my father-in-law. He was a saint and a true Christian that I had known my entire life. When "his" mother-in-law passed away, he took in a 2 yr old boy, 17 yr old boy and father-in-law in the late 1940s. He had the father-in-law for 15 years of his early married life and raised the 2 yr old as his son. All that said, I felt like he deserved the same help. Knowing him and loving him has helped but it has not been easy at all.
He is at the stage of Alzheimer's that he doesn't understand directions or communication from more than 1 person at a time. His son has always been the one he trusts, eventhough he has an adopted and another blood son. So now, I'm the bad guy. He only wants the son around.
You just have to understand and take everything in stride. If you can not let words roll off, you do not need to move in. If you are emotional, do not take this own.
We have been married 40 years and I considered us a very strong couple. But this has tested us in ways never considered.
Nothing will stay the same. Over time they will get worst and require more and more from you.
With everything that has been said, I would do it again. I still believe it was and is the right thing to do. There will come a day that we can't handle the situation and have to find a home but until then we have added several more quality years to his life that he has enjoyed. That is the reward that we needed.
In years to come to be able to look back and know that you did not abandon and look away when you were needed, will give you peace. Good luck!