My mother has lived with us for 3 years now. She has her own apartment downstairs with a private entrance. She has severe hearing loss and hearing aids do not help much. She has a curvature in her spine, but was fine until she fell over 3 years ago and now does not trust her legs to hold her up. She has all but completely withdrawn from any interaction with the outside world. She will go to the grocery store weekly, but not much of anywhere else. My husband and I ask her continuously to go places with us, but she refuses. She uses her hearing as an excuse. She is afraid of everyone who comes to our house, and will leave the room if anyone comes over. She sets in the dark most times and does not talk to anyone except the dog. I'm an only child. I don't know what to do to help her. Should I try to contact her doctor and talk with them about how she chooses complete isolation?
Love, Marylynne
You are heroes - do you know that? You have such courage! All the sorrows you have suffered, and yet you have compassion for your elderly parents. I will pray for each of you.
Yes, I know my mother shouldn't beat me - and it is so unlike her. My mother was always hard-working and dedicated to me,and never approved of violence, but I can't say she was warm and loving, it just wasn't in her. (Thank God, I had a wonderful relationship with my maternal grandmother, and she was very warm and loving, and gave good hugs, too.)
In my case, she really has NO one else in the world except me. My father is still alive and has more physical problems, but is still very mentally sharp and active. But they separated when I was a child. He has sent her allimony checks to this very day and keeps her covered in medical insurance. But she hates him with a passion. All her life, in her mind, he left home yesterday (what I mean by that is the "emotional wound" - if there is such a term - is very fresh. Like if you scrape your arm and every time a scab starts to form, you scratch it off.)
She beat me a few nights ago. The police came, and again they did nothing. And I really don't want her arrested and put in jail - heaven forbid.
Tonight I got home from work a little after midnight, as usual, and she was beyond drunk - she was "poluted"! I have never seen her SO drunk. She just fell into her bed, and I hope she stays there till morning. I can't believe her body is strong enough to put up with alcohol this long! I'd hate to think what her liver looks like.
Dear God, help us all!
love,
Peg
You are so kind. Thank you very much. I guess I wanted you all to know me more. Would love to know you all more too. Yes, our mothers are very much alike. So we both kind of know what road we have travelled. You seem to be a very nice, sweet, kind loving person...I am so glad to know you here..
Love,
Cindi
Cindi
Donna, you too, losing your husband and continuing on with your mother. I think I would have just thrown in the towel. Ya'll are much stronger than me. And let your guy friend move in no matter what. If she wants you to take care of her, she has to let you be happy. It seems your guy friend is very nice to her and doesn't mind her being there, so go for it. Be Happy!!
I feel guilty for feeling the way I do, with what you girls have endured beside the illnesses of your parents. Donna, what did your husband die from? and again,will understand if you don't want to talk about it.
Love to all, Marylynne
P.S. nauseated from taking the Lexapro, but trying to make it through the initial two weeks to kick in. Wish me luck. Any one knows if Lexapro makes you gain weight?
Sorry for the double posting. Makes it difficult to understand. I had trouble sumitting my posting. Happens to me sometimes, I think I write too much and there is time limit or something. There is something I forgot to mention. I said only part of the reason against all odds of why I take care of my mom. The second part is because I love her. Even knowing how she is and can be. There is some goodness in her. She is my Mother. She raised me with all my goodness and my flaws. Some of which I took from her...and some of my emotional difficulties because I was raised by her. As long as I can tolerate, cope, and handle my mother as well as my father, they can stay with us. But, if my mother is blatantly and uncaringly and consciously hurting me, causing me great pain then I may have to decide otherwise. I would first talk to her before doing that. I do not anticipate having to go to those measures. There is a part of us that has and needs to continue to rise above all of this...and be even more spiritual and compassionate, understanding then our mothers could ever be. This will make us better people I believe. But, if it takes too much of us and from us. If we are mentally and emotionally and physically suffering greatly then we have to take a step back and review the situation. In that case I do believe that not taking care of them in our home might be the best thing. There are other ways of taking care of them. If it is making us sick then we may have to resort to the other ways.
Been thinking about what you wrote. Does mother pay for the house or is it yours? If it is your home and she lives with you I don't see why you can't have your male friend move in. You want him to he wants to...he helps you and is a comfort to you. Why is Mom the boss??? Unless she owns the home and you live with her then it gets a bit sticky. I say have a talk with her, and go for it! Good Luck...
Cindi
Also, Peg...it is not okay for your mother to beat or hit you.
Cindietc. So, I can't relate to having a less difficult mother. She has always been difficult. I think that having known a nicer mother is a good thing. At least you had a kinder mother once upon a time. I do realize that it doesn't mean much now. But, I can't help longing to have known a kinder Mother. My Mother is 82 (will be 83 in Sept). She has lived with me for nearly 5 months now. Before that she lived with my brother and his family for 6 months and was asked to leave. She then lived in an active senior residence facility (apartments). She lived there for 16 months. The first 7 months I was not in the picture, my brother was. Then she had back surgery in Feb of 2007 and I was back in the picture. For 9 months I took care of her needs while she was at the senior residence. I went there every day sometimes more then once a day. She fell down in the bathroom there in March of 2007 and I brought her into my home for 2 weeks and nurse her back to health but put her back in the residence. Took me almost a year to decide to let her move in permanently with us. My father (whom she will not take care of...and also says her back prevents her from caring for him...which is true to some extent) had lived with us 2 years in June. He has stage 5 altzheimers. He was in a nursing home for 5 months. I rescued him somewhat against her wishes. My mother has little or no patience for my father. They use to fight all the time in their home. She would take a stick or cane and theathen him sometimes. They are doing okay here. I sometimes have to mediate and make sure my mother doesn't make my father agitated i.e. tell my dad to quit peeing on the bathroom floor when he misses..etc...(dad will argue he did not do it...altzheimers) My mother is more movtivated to work things out with me cause she knows from here it would be back to the senior residence and she dislikes it more there. She is afraid to be alone. She had a break-in years ago and is traumatized from it. She also wants to live with family even though she cannot have her ways like she would like. She is controlling and domineering, negative, critical, complaintive, picky, hard to please, depressed. I have to work at handling her emotional needs as well as balancing my own. Dad is fairly easy except when agitated. Thank god, husband is low maintenance. Daughter is away at college. My son passed away two years ago at age 26. Life for sure has not been a crystal staircase. In 2005 I had a knee replacement, my son died and my parents had to sell their house and separate. Mom to brothers, dad to nursing home. Sister use to live with them and she moved in with her boyfriend. Sister and I are estranged she will not help me with parents any longer and wasn't that much help anyways. She promised she would help with dad when I took him out of nursing home. My sister and my mother suffer from big emotional/mental/personality problems. I do believe that my sister and mother both have BPD (borderline personality disorder). This is when they can be real sweet and then turn on a dime and be the most evil mean people. My sister is worse. She never did deal well with my son's death. She believes that she can communicate with him and that has caused me recent grief because she talks about him and with him all the time. One thing we all have in common is that we struggle. I have a difficult time telling my mother how I feel and worry about her taking it badly and then treating me badly. But, I have been able to talk to her even though I have been scared and like I said she is taking it better but it is still not easy. There are days I want to scream and wonder how much longer?? She is so healthy as far as diet etc..she could outlive me. I am very overweight. I eat emotionally and am thinking about a gastric bypass in the future. I am diabetic and it isn't where it should be so having the bypass they say will help me. I brought my mother in cause I knew she would suffer the least here and have the best care. This way mom and dad would live in closer proximity even though they have little connection. There is history and we are family. My brother helps as far as managing their financial affairs but that is it. My mother allows me $80.00 a week or 8 hours a week or caregiver fees. I had to fight for that. I convinced her with my brother's help that if I didn't have at least that I would not survive and could not continue to take care of dad and her. I often times supplement the caregiver fees so I can go with husband sometimes. I go by myself during the week so I can get away and grieve my son (which will always be continuous) and just not have to take care of anyone but me for a few hours. Also, sometimes I might go to lunch with a gf. Before I took my parents in I was very social. I often have to miss things that my friends do together as couples now that their kids are grown and gone. Anyways we all have our levels of difficulty, problems, woes, suffering, pain, depressions. I feel for us all. I am thankful that there is now a place to be able to share these feeling besides with my husband and occasionally with my counselor. You all can truly understand because you live it too. Well, that is my story..Love and God Bless you all.
Also, Peg...it is not okay for your mother to beat or hit you.
Cindi
Mom's was a different story, on Thursday she told me " don't say anything to the doctor that is going to get him to do something" I said "he's going to do an EKG and you better not lie to him."
At the dr. I got her good, he comes in and shakes my hand then hers and asks her how are you feeling she says"ok" then he looks at me and asks me how she is doing and I said " I was told not to say anything" He didn't like that he told her he is going to ask me and he lit into her about his instuctions that she is not following. Walking is all he has asked her to do, she'll use every excuse and he doesn't buy it. He also said " YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO YOUR DAUGHTER YOU ARE LUCKY TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT CARES ABOUT YOU" she said thats what all the drs. say. I told him thank you and I have made suggestions for her to get more active but I can't make her. she has to go back in 6 months and if she doesn't do as she is told he can refuse to be her doctor.
He made her promise to get a stationary bike and to walk outside and he wants to get her up to 3 miles in a day. Well when we get home " how am I going to walk 3 miles" you do it gradually. Lets bet if she will do it. He also told her she is to use the walker everywhere. I thought in the car on the way home that I was going to be in trouble but she hardly said a word. Today's a beautiful day sent the boys out to clean the garage and mom hasn't took one step outside. oxoxoxo Judy
Any way, all you girls have a beautiful day. Sun is shining and i am off to garage sales. yipppeeee.
Love,
Donna
I'm 54, single, no children, no siblings, still have to work (211 days to go till I can retire!) and hoping I will not lose my mind or have a heart attack before retirement. I don't know where to start - I love my mom, but the woman I see before me is NOT the mother I knew. She is 83, in fairly decent physical health for her age (just HBP and arthritis), but mentally and emotionally - I don't know. The mood swings are frightening.
It is heartbreaking to see this former schoolteacher and newspaper editor start a sentence and get 3 or 4 words out, then not be able to think of the next word, and either I guess the right word and she continues, or I guess the wrong word and she calls me "stupid". When I take her to doctors, she can't seem to tell them what is wrong, and I have to talk for her.
She still drinks (has all her life). Has temper tantrums etc. What tops it all is when I come home from work (unfortunately this job I work 4 pm to midnight, which she hates) there have been about 5 times since Nov that she throws me out of the house (she owns it, I rent the apartment on the 2nd floor) and I have to rent a motel room for the night. Other work nights she just calls my cell phone so many times that it interrupts my work and the local police have told me to just turn off the phone. (But what if she calls me because she is really hurt or has fallen again and can't get to me?) One time I came home at midnight and she had fallen, and couldn't remember when (it had to be between 7 pm when I called her, and before midnight) and the Lifeline didn't work (later found one of the phones was slightly off the hook) and that time she had bloodied her forearm. Of course, again the police and EMT's had to come.
What really gets me is the beatings. In my state, if someone hits a senior citizen, it is "senior abuse" and you go to jail. However, there is no law on the books about senior citizens hitting a caregiver. The local town police know both of us well - they have come tons of times. It is so embarrasing! When I got hold of the county Office of the Aging and told them my story, they said they wanted to contact Adult Protective Services - I almost passed out! I blurted out: I don't beat my mother!! They said: no, for you. I was shocked!
I take great comfort in my darling Boston Terrier, Valentine, and the power of prayer. Can't wait for retirement. Dream of moving to Maine (but now she can't write her own checks anymore to pay bills, so we'll see what happens in the future).
Best wishes to all of you,
Peg
Well, my day has gone fairly smoothly, except for my mother telling me every few minutes that i should get off the computer and lay down and rest. I will lay down and rest when i damned well feel like it, not when some old witch tells me to. My resentment grows daily. Nothing i do is right or good enough. I made a chicken enchilada casserole for dinner, and she said, i dont like this. i will eat a peanut jelly sandwich. Had i know no one would eat it, i sure wouldnt have gone to the trouble and expense to make it. well, my dog continually gets fatter as i feed her most of the stuff i cook for my mom. I did get some rest today. didnt do much housework, just a load of laundry cook, and clean the kitchen, so feel much better this evening. What do you girls think of me letting my friend (male) move in with us? He is gone most of the time anyway, and when he is here, helps me with the dreaded yardwork, and other things that i cannot do. He wants to, and i would like to have him here. I havent ran it by the Boss yet. No telling what she will say, but then she has the worst opinion of me anyway. I cannot marry, or would lose my income, which is quite substantial from my late husband. I am tired of giving up my life for my mom an my son. I want to have a real life. luvyall
I would talk to her doctor like you said. She sounds severely depressed and has alienated herself from everything, everyone but the dog...and you guys I suppose. I think not being able to hear well makes it easy to be in your own world. Perhaps she finds things outside herself frightful to her now. It is so difficult to see someone you love not do well. Especially if they choose it. Good luck...
Sorry you had such an especially hard day yesterday at the hospital/doctors/mri. You deserve a break. Mom might want to go garage sale shopping (and there are none). But, time to tell mom that you are so exhausted from yesterday and everything else last week that you are taking some time for you. Plan how you are going to do that, what you need and do it. Perhaps you can just tend to her as minimally as possible or hire someone in or something. You have been on overload for the last few weeks!
Best wishes, Marylynne
Love to all of you and I do wish to have a mother like Audrey. I know Audrey is showing us the other side, but she sounds like a doll to get along with.
Let us know..
hugs
Cindi
Love, Marylynne
It was nice to hear from the other side of the fence. I understand what you are saying about turning to parents for their imput, opinion, wisdom, advice. I do that at times with my mother. I must say that from what I read you seem very well adjusted. My mother and a few of the other mothers are not. You had your turn of taking care of parents, even your husband. Like Judy (decor) said you did what you needed to and seemed very positive. I think you are more positive then myself. Being raised by a negative parent especially Mother tends to affect one. It delights me to know that there are actually Mother's out there that are positive, accepting what life gives them and making the best of it. You continue your life seeking things you enjoy. I hope that someday I will mature into someone like you. I wished my Mother were more like you if she was it would be much nicer having to take care of her. I also noticed that you try not to cause any trouble, and don't offer your thoughts unless asked. Minding your own business that is very important when you live with your children. Continued best wishes to you and your family and good health.
Sounds like the things that happened in your life you accepted and did the best that you could to deal with it positively. That is my mother's fault she never expected things to be this way and she is not a team player, she finds fault with my Dad, her husband of 47 years but never once comes up with ways to improve the quality of her life or his. I wish my mother was like you she is only 74 and should be full of life.
Alot of the relationships have to do with when we were younger, we haven't seen eye to eye since I was 16. You sound like you have a plan and your sticking to it good luck to you Judy
Nor do I expect to go out when my daughter does, but if taken to a theatre etc. thoroughly enjoy the treat. I am dependent on them for transport as I no longer drive, but confine that to doctors, banks, shops etc. when I know they are going.
Sharing time together is good, but normally by 8.30 to 9pm I retire to my own room and tv, radio, books etc. and enjoy time with my small dog.
My big pleasure is my computer, I correspond with my family in UK and the USA and old friends, keep up with all the latest BBC and CNN news, plus newspapers.
Recently I indulged in an old piano and when I am alone I practice for hours.
I do enjoy TV but dont like to spend too long sitting in front of it.
Watching DVDs of my choice, I have come to enjoy opera performances by famous artists too.
From being eleven years old, I had to help clean my parents home and after I left I went back to help my mother by cleaning for her as she was working but unwell for many years. When she died I took on the care of my father and travelled every week to his home to clean for him. He came to live with my husband and I following a fall and my sister and I cared for him until he died at 96, we loved having him, he was in a wheel chair and although we had some carers for him in the mornings and evenings, he was a very active man, a real character, pithy, often very strong minded, but he brought happiness to us all.
After this my own husband became ill for some years and sadly went into Alzheimers but I cared for him at home and with help from morning and eveing carers to get him up and put him to bed I managed to give him the love and care he needed.
When I came to live with my daughter and her husband I didnt expect to sit back and be waited on but slowly found my place here and despite one or two health set backs have kept very active. finding much pleasure in the garden and all the things I do. Even down to sewing straps and buttons on for grandchildren who dont know how to use a needle and thread, or even knitting needles.!!!
To anyone taking in a parent I say, dont discount them, dont let them sit in a chair and do nothing, get their help in small things and all household events.
often they are too worried to ask and feel they may be intruding and sit back.
Give them a chance. Think how they feel suddenly not being the masters of their own fate. Often embarrassed and upset by having to ask if they can do something.
I spend part of the year with my son and wife and his two children and I love going, they make me so welcome. Im about to try to teach them piano playing. and my son and I love to get out into his garden where we share ideas and plans.
His wife is a wonderful photographer and she is always very welcoming when I got there.
I regard myself as so lucky and hope to go on doing all I can to be a welcome and useful member of my new home.
I hope you dont mind a comment from the other side of the fence!!!!
Judy, your mom does sound depressed. It's hard on you when they are that way. Brings the energy and morale down. My mother and father have dentures. She needs her realigned or something...she has sores in her mouth where they are rubbing. Do any of you girls have to bathe your parents? I bathed Dad. I bathed him 3 times a week. I figure that is enough he doesn't do anything physical and will dry out his skin if I bathe him too often plus it's work! Glad you are getting out for your hair to be done today. And, of course you are having everyone else get theirs done too..cause you are efficient...you good little caregiver you...(smiling)...Well think I will be off and on here...kinda bored today seeing that I have been running all week. Have to go out and buy a baby birthday gift invited on Saturday to the party. Not sure when I will get out to buy it. Husband will stay with parents on Saturday while I go to the party. Getting a new garage door installed. Neighbor's son's friend crashed into ours when we went to San Jose to visit my daughter earlier. Taken a long time to get the door in...well good thing is that I get the roll up door I wanted...Enjoy the times in between everything and do something one thing that makes you happy.
Love to you all
Cindi