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What help is available to me? My parents, 80 and 70 something have begun using toxic fumes to make me weaker. At various times, exhaust fumes, natural gas, and dust enter my bedroom - even while I sleep. I don't have the income to move. They leave something in the bathroom drain that makes me gap. They have allowed a leak from the shower to persist for about two years. I think they use things that can't be seen so if I complain or report them I'll be deemed crazy. I'm tough and didn't graduate from college to do anything but run away - if and when I can. There are too many trails and mountains to climb to let them drive me to... I just can't hike trails in a wheelchair.

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No or some income, wheelchair, so are you homebound? whether they are or are not trying to hurt you, you believe it, so you should not live there. i assume you may be on SSD and have a Case Worker. If you feel you are in danger call 911 also call APS,
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I really recommend you get some professional counseling because some of these statements may be delusional.
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Please call your family physician and report this to him/her. I think you need outside assistance.
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If this is true, call in a professional and have him check around the house. Dust is everywhere, but if he finds traces of a natural gas leak, that needs to be addressed. I don't think your parents are out to harm you, but there very well could be something wrong with the house itself if it seems you're getting sick or allergic to something.
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I really cringed at the suggestion that you may be delusional. We are here to lift each other up, and no one REALLY knows what someone is going through. As mentioned in another comment, adult protective services (APS) would be a good resource. Do you have friends that could help you? Extended family or do you have a church that you go to, that might help you contact the resources/ professionals that might help you? Sorry to hear of all this! I wish you well.
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Low/no income + disabled/wheelchair-bound adult child + remote area + elderly parent/caregivers + potentially deteriorating home/possible endangerment =
time to call APS to intervene / get help.
At very least, to get situation evaluated.
Their motives for doing things, or if they do them deliberately, none of us can evaluate here--but your cry for help is clear!
YOU need help.
That would be APS; or you could call 911 to report unknown fumes in home, when those are happening, to get officer and/or Social worker to come to house, to smell them as they happen. Though, it's been my experience, in our rural area, that calling 911 got our local volunteer fire dept. person, who was entirely cavalier about a bad kerosene or oil spill in our vicinity that had such level of fumes it could have caused explosion, and definitely caused breathing impairment---he came to door and spoke of it as if was a minor issue.
APS could get you out of there if needed.
What might be "normal" cleaning chemical fumes to many people, could cause serious breathing problems for many others.
OR potential gas leak could be something elderly noses can no longer detect---which maybe no malice to you, but could indicate their beginning dementia, over-using those----like: Mom tried to clean her commode by leaving bleach sitting in it in her closed, 80 degree warm room, as she sat in there--nearly knocked me out next time I opened her door---yet, supposedly she had all her wits.
If elderly parents have become demented at all, this could be signals they, at some level, know you need to find a safer place to live, instead of where you are now with them---they also might they need safer place to live....elders who take this route somehow know you must still be able to think more clearly than they can, and that you're smart enough to call for help they can't figure to do anymore.
For instance, Mom kept complaining she hated the color blue. We rent: not allowed to paint her room, which was blue. In the end, finally understood her hating blue was tangled up in her ideas of wanting to move elsewhere.
Elders who start losing ability to communicate thoughts clearly, sometimes try to tell those thoughts in some unusual ways--including doing some behaviors that are unacceptable.. In your case, it's possible they could be trying to make "home" so unpleasant that you actively look for better place to live.
They are aging fast: at some level, they want you to be safe, even if they have to make you miserable first, to accomplish that goal--they aren't thinking straight!.
Some people learn inappropriate ways of communicating complicated feelings and thoughts that they may have struggled with their whole lives, resulting in all sorts of odd or even abusive behaviors.
Please call local authorities for help, and keep us posted here how things work out.
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I also think the suggestion of being delusional is way out of line. My mother, her husband, and my aunt were all abusive and I had to take care of both my aunt and my mother (mother is now in personal care). Many abusive people do know that what they ae doing is wrong and take steps to cover their actions. It could also be that they really don't know what they are doing. If you have a caseworker involved - talk to them. Your doctor could also order home visits from a social worker for a limited time to check out the situation. The doctor's office may be able to process the order with just a phone call from you if you have been seen there recently. You shouldn't have to be afraid to be at home with them.
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May you soon find help and may God give you strenghth to do what you must. if you can prove this is going on, document everything. How are they keeping the fumes from hurting them?
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Both my 89 year old parents have dementia. I sometimes think that they use being old to not learn new things and be just plain mean. I say this because they seem so nice to everyone else except my husband and me. We have done everything for them. The more we do the worse they treat us. I beleive that even dementia parents know when they cross the line. They have crossed the line so many times with so many things that I think that I wear a sign on the back of my behind that says KICK ME PLEASE!! and they do. I do beleive that old parents try to hurt the child who is doing the most. (I am an only child). I believe that anything is possible. Try to make a list of things so that they can be checked out. Could you tell us more about yourself. There is nothing on your wall. Thanks in advance.
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Do they have any life insurance policies on you? This could be a way to start some rational fact-finding that could lead to other important leads. Please let us know how you are doing. I want to help. Is there anything else you need? Please stay in touch! I think you are smart to get to the bottom of this right away. My prayers are with you and a great big hug! Hang in there!
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