10 days since mums diagnosis and NOTHING from sister.

macada, with all due respect, there is NO EXCUSE for people who claim "they just aren't strong" or "just can't handle" or "just can't deal" -- these are nicey-nicey phrases that seek to put lipstick on the selfishness pig. After all, someone else will be stuck having to take up their part -- will have to be extra-strong, extra-required to handle, extra-required to deal, because the hothouse orchids are too delicate to care about anyone but themselves.

Fitzgerald- I never said it was an excuse, I said it was a reason.. there's a difference. Most siblings who are emotionally fragile when it comes to their ailing parents probably would not admit that they can't deal with it.
I have first hand knowledge of being the one who does it ALL. I gave up my life 14 months ago, locked up my condo, gave up my business, gave up my social life and moved in to be my mum's live-in- caregiver and I am her POA as well. I know my sisters can't handle my mum's dementia so they call long distance and make their conversations short and light. They are who they are. Is it fair? No. Life is not fair, but I am not the type of person who is going to use up my emotional energy trying to change, control and mold my sisters into the people I think they should be. When it comes to my mother.. nobody makes decisions about her health or finances except for me, I set those boundaries right at the beginning, everybody knows where I stand and there are no problems. I have now reached the point that I am grateful nobody is injecting their two cents into the situation, it makes mum's and my life easier all the way around. I don't need their "help".

macada, I respect and admire your choices and your fortitude, and the way you have set boundaries with these siblings. If they are the sort of siblings who will keep from challenging or even transgressing those boundaries, then you may indeed have an upside to your situation.
Your mother is a very fortunate woman to have you for a daughter.

Thank-you Fitzgerald, I appreciate the compliment.

The way I see things is that if my siblings don't help out financially,physically or emotionally then they not only don't care about my mum but couldn't careless about me and if this happens to me when mum dies I want nothing more to do with them.
Noone can DEAL with dementia its not easy even for professionals so I totally agree with Fitz im sorry there is NO excuses they don't want to help period.

Kazzaa- I understand your anger and frustration. I was giving my opinion based on 26 years of being a geriatric caregiver as well as being the caregiver for my mum for the last 14 months. My mum does not require financial help from anyone so my situation is different from yours in that respect.
We can agree to disagree on the reasons that siblings react or don't react the way we feel they should. As I said in my first comment, I am just giving my opinion based on my personal experiences with people. Nobody has to agree with me.

In reality, though it was up to you to give your sister the information the rest is between your sister and her mother. Even though your mother has dementia and may not be functioning normally, you have no control over your sister or her actions. It's frustrating, yes. You WANT to support your mother and make your sister do the right thing. But once you give the information and provide a way for your sister to respond you are out of the loop. You have to let it go - you have no control or responsibility over her actions, either.

Personally I don't send emails etc.. to my absent siblings, if they can't call either Mother or me obviously they are not concerned about her health or well-being.

Move on...

A&A-
My attitude is the same as yours. I used to let sibs know via email about each doc visit, etc. I really think they are in denial over moms condition. It got to the point that I wouldn't even receive any sort of response to these emails, so I stopped sending them. They never contact me to ask how she is doing, nothing. They can take their so called love and concern .....

Ten years ago mum had a mild heart attack my brother was here on his own my sister lives 2hrs away he rang and told her she said " well id come up and help but my daughter has a sailing lesson this weekend"
Last year I came home and within ten minutes of arriving my mum was an the sofa having a "seizure" thankgod I knew what to do half panicked half in control I saved her from a coma.
Rang my sister and told her while sobbing uncontrollably as it all just hit me after 24hrs of hell she said " well id come up but i couldnt get the time off work"
She teaches art to kids privately??

I rest my case!

Similar situation here with my grandmother who passed away in May. She lived with our husband and I since May 2011 and was 95 when she passed. We bought this house so we could be closer to my sister who is a nurse and said she would visit /assist. She came only if we were having a family dinner, I asked her to come when I had a specific health question about my grandmother' care, or if my sister wanted money from my grandmother. When confronted after my grandmother passed away, her response was "I should have made time, I didn't, and I'm sorry." That's all she would say. I decided I was on my own and felt better about it...except when I saw comments on Facebook about how blessed she was to have the patients she had at the nursing home that she worked at. How mind blowing would it be for her friends and coworkers to know she had a grandmother that she didn't visit unless she needed money?

I agree with you Kazzaa- as someone who doesn't have children I have constantly had to bear the additional burden of dealing with people in my life who have used their children as a reason to be irresponsible in other areas of their life. Having children is a choice and not having children is a choice for some of us too, that should not absolve those who do have children of their duties and responsibilities that they have toward other people and situations. It is not fair but it is their right to not step in and help, as unfair and selfish as it is. I just wish elderly parents would stop handing out money to their kids that don't do anything for them, that is what really ticks me off!

OH TDH havnt begun down that road yet? Bumped into my sisters friend a few days ago (she lives in Paris) she asked how mum was I said fine one day at a time..... well isnt it great your sister will be home soon "give u a nice break" I wanted to let rip at how useless and selfish my sister really is BUT no i smiled and said yes.........I cursed myself all the way home.

TDH thats bad she works and cares for strangers in a home then treats her own like that incredible.

One post i saw on here was the sister who was a counsellor but never helped out her own family?

So sad.

I agree macada but shes not even that much of a mother herself. Her two beautiful girls have fallen out with her they told me that no matter what she has shes never happy and wants more.
My sister is a christian and I think is upset that mum hasnt given her a share in the house as she owns 2.
How christian of her?

I am not one to run and help. I always thought that my Mother needed more help than my sister could give her. But, if I had ever been asked to come, I would have been there. My other sister would go help and then, I would get calls "Why is she here, it is messing with our routine." Sometimes, you just can't win.

Why do siblings think they should be asked to help? by whom? do we not have free will?

Unfortunately free will means a person is free to chose where they want to help just as those of us chose to help. Asking a sibling to help who refuses...that is their choice and those of us who chose to help....well, we have to see it for what it is . We can't force caregiving on family members any more than they can force it on us...we chose for what ever reasons are behind it and our conscience is what we go by. Hugs all!!

Because when my sister would go uninvited, Mother and the sis (living near by) complained about it. But, they were both in ill health. Sometimes, people just like to complain and they really don't want someone helping. Mom and sis, were in IL. I am in AZ. and the sis that would help is in WY. So, we couldn't just drop in.

My situation is a little different, because taking care of my Mother contributed to my sister's death. Now, mom is peachy keen and none of us have been back since last Dec.

All of our situations are different. I am sorry that I went OT.

Chicago, after reading 63% of us caregivers die first, your post scares me when you said taking care of your Mom contributed to our sisters death, omg!
Zazza, I agree, why not "offer" at the least to help out. If someone were giving my Mom the care that I am, I would be bringing them meals, sending them support cards and a weekend or 2 a month off, people just dont realize and never will, how hard it is to caregive 24/7. At least I have a clear conscience.

I also think siblings who live out of town need not bother to come for a "visit", that is just more work and disruption for those of us who are the live-in-caregivers. If you want to come and see your elderly parent(s), then come and HELP.. not visit. Offer to stay with the parent for a week or two so the primary caregiver can go away or take a much needed break! Most elderly parents who have health issues do not want to "visit" all the time, it's exhausting. Ask the primary caregiver how you can be of help! They will tell you :)

Brother and sister arriving here next week brother the eldest is VERY supportive little sis has her head up her ass! She will have a schedule spend as little time with mum as poss and go off and meet friends for dinners and coffees while telling them "yeh im home to see mum and help out" shes gets alot of sympathy from her friends as she fills them full of crap. "its so hard for me being abroad"???????????????
Thankgod my brother is coming as i cant be the same room as her i have made 2 apts for mum flu jab and doc so my sister can take her! next weekend im doing NOTHING i will not even wash a cup of course no matter what happens mum will be on best behaviour and doing things basically acting normal around them? Yes siblings coming is always even more stressful then actual caregiving ive learnt not to argue with them dinner needs to be cooked and house cleaned its not a hotel here i will just dissapear for the day and come back when all is done. Going to be tough as we have to discuss with mum that she cant live on her own here anymore and that she moves with me to care for her or she had to go to a NH. Today she refuses to wear her hearing aid this is just ongoing but you can bet your bottom dollar shell have it in all next weekend!!!!!!

Kazzaa,
I would make sure you leave when they are here. Let them know how it is all the time. As long as you are there, you are the anchor for your mom. You might be surprised at how she is without you around, as will your siblings.

Oh i will not be around just to have a discussion re mums future care. I have 2 friends who have given me their keys so I can go there. Trust me if i could afford it id be gone away somewhere also and dont think im "nuts" i have a cat whom ive left here before and he wasnt looked after my sister being the prime suspect our cleaning lady told me the last time I left my sister here alone with mum that the cat wouldnt eat my sister never told me this so never again. My brother is better and makes sure the cats ok. I know you look after their mum all year and all you ask is that the cat is well cared for BUT no i have to worry about him aswell. I did put my cat in a cattery one wkend and he was traumatised and very badly cared for I was so angry. I will find a better cattery in the future or pay someone to look after him as i intend having a long holiday soon and my sis will have to be here to care for mum that shoud be fun!!

Even though my mom made my sister's life a living Hell, when I would arrive, she would be on "show time." It is hard for a visitor to know or accept what a full time care taker goes through. I still can't figure ouat how a women can go from being totally dependent on someone to able to walk, get coffee, and go get in the car, when I was there.

Whatever happens, you can take a break, Kazzaa. Do not answer the phone over once a day, read, go see a movie and breath. (Oh, that poor cat!)

Kazzaa- Maybe you shouldn't tell your mum your siblings are coming, just let them show up so they can see how your mum really is?!

Oh my brother and sister know how she is its my sister who refuses to any real help always plans made to meet friends etc....things are going to be very different now as mums finally got a diagnosis my sister refused to believe mum had dementia even though ive been telling her for months she caused so much trouble here its unreal and its not over yet? shes demanding POA funny isnt it never wanted to know or get involved with mums care but now demanding she have a say in her welfare as ive said if she gets to be even joint POA i will walk away as i couldnt bear her questioning my every move re mum. Last time i spoke to her i told her to join a forum and speak to a doctor and google as much as you can about dementia shes done nothing. I suppose she thinks that things are going to be the same as before she flits in meets her friends then heads home until another visit?
Ive had a very bad stomach all week just the thoughts of her coming she always finds a way to wind me up. As my friend says "how come theres always trouble when she arrives" my sisters excuse for doing nothing is that she works hard all year?