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Sorry, this is a long post/question...

My mother is a year shy of 80-years-old. She has a history of depression and anxiety disorder, but though I have encouraged and cajoled for her to get help for almost 3 decades, she has always refused, preferring "tea and sympathy" from me. Twice over the years, I've managed to convince her to go to a doctor for the depression, but she has never gone back after the first visit. She tried Citalopram briefly, but I didn't see any difference.

Except for a handful of blissfully free years when she had a lot of money, and I was able to live on my own, she has shared a house with me my adult entire life, and I have supported her financially most of that time. Any time I went anywhere overnight, she'd call with an emergency. For years, she threatened almost every day to commit suicide. Once I became older and marriage was pretty much off the table for me, the suicide threats calmed down, but she still tells me she would commit suicide if I moved away.

My mother has two problems that complicate her depression and anxiety. One, she prefers to self-medicate with alcohol. She also has the uncanny ability to create serious physical symptoms in herself that are so convincing she regularly fools specialists. Once they start, they can last for months, or until she finds a doctor who tells her there's nothing wrong with her. She then believes the doctor and the symptoms clear up immediately.

A month ago she got drunk and fell. She didn't appear to have any broken bones (no one in our family has ever broken a bone). She'd simply pulled a couple of muscles. I helped her into bed. For the next week, her symptoms varied, pains here, there, in her neck, in her side, in her back.

Her original pulled muscles healed within three days, but instead of becoming well enough to get out of bed, the muscles in her lower back spasmed and have remained that way since. She can only walk a few steps, and is crying when she does. She won't go to see a doctor. So, now I appear to be an around-the-clock caretaker. I bring her everything she needs. She tells me that wine is the only thing that makes her spasms better, so I bring her a couple of glasses a day mixed with juice along with her meals.

This afternoon, however, I had to run errands. When I came home, she was completely wasted. Evidently she could walk well enough to make it all the way to the kitchen, where she downed half a bottle of Vodka. Sometimes during the past few years she drinks more than I can get her to eat.

I really don't know what to do. I have no one I can go to for assistance. I spent too many years attempting to get help from government and non-profit agencies for another (unrelated) problem, so I have zero faith in going that route. They hand you a pamphlet and that's it. No concrete help.

We don't have any friends. Her other children, my siblings, abandoned her years ago. At her age, my conscience won't let me do the same, however. If only I knew 20 years ago, what I know now, I would have used some tough love and left, telling her she had to take responsibility for herself.

The bedridden part of this worries me. I'm concerned this could turn into a serious decline, and am not certain how best to care for her since she refuses to seek medical care. Frankly, even if she did go to a doctor, they rarely know how to treat her. She can be exceptionally charming with strangers, and is never honest with doctors about her symptoms unless she feels she has no choice.

Four weeks ago my mother could move around easily, and for once appeared very happy, working industriously on a book project. When not drunk, she acts like someone much younger. People are surprised when they learn her age. When drunk, on the other hand, she acts like someone with dementia.

Any suggestions for how I could handle this on my own would be greatly appreciated. This last month has taken a toll on my ability care for her AND to earn a living for us. We don't have insurance that will cover therapy, even if I could drag her to a therapist.

Thank you.

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Wow, just read some of the other stories here. The issues I'm dealing with are small potatoes by comparison. Sounds like I simply need to do my best and accept that the situation is what it is.
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Yes, Caregiver15, you need to do your best and accept that that is what you can do. Set aside any goals of perfection.

But, my goodness, are you willing to stay trapped by this situation for another 10 years? 15? You can't leave overnight? She manipulates you with threats of suicide? She requires so much care now that it is impacting your ability to earn a living -- and you have to earn it for both of you?

Certainly you are not going to pack up and move out and let her figure out what to do next. But I think you need to do some figuring out about how to have a life of your own. Keep reading posts on these forums. You will learn all sort of creative ways people have dealt with very stressful issues.

You are not responsible for your mother's happiness. You are not even responsible for her finances. The answer to how to best care for an elderly bedridden alcoholic mother is, I think, "not alone."

I know you have zero faith in government agencies, but I urge you to contact Aging Services in your state, or Social Services for your county, and have them evaluate the situation. They can advise you of what services are available for your mother. Perhaps she should apply for Medicaid. You will see many posts of people who have helped their parents with this.

My mother and also a disabled brother both have Medicaid and get various services to assist them to live independently. Yeah, it is not perfect and they are lucky to also have family to be supportive. But social services did not just give them a bunch of pamphlets. It is real, concrete help that makes a measurable difference in their lives.

Please don't give up on the possibility of real improvement in your life. You deserve it. It can happen.
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Caregiver15: Your mom is an alcoholic and, besides other health issues, the alcohol is the one that lessens her ability to function. I agree with Jeannegibbs. Get serious about talking to your local Area on Aging. The resources are there and they are real. You might also want to get involved in Alynon (sp). It's never to late to learn how to distance yourself from the manipulation of an alcoholic. Someday your mom will be gone and you might very well find your self attracted to another person with the same problems. It's time for you to understand your role as a loving enabler. Do it now and gain some wisdom. Then put an end to this need to enable. My most heartfelt wishes go out to you. Take some action. Cattails.
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Thank you, JeanneGibbs and Cattails. The advice is very much appreciated. I'll check out what aging services are available in my area.

I already got my mother on Medicaid, but our city has very few places that accept it. The local hospital ER is the place where most Medicaid patients end up, because they can't get an appointment elsewhere. Not ideal, and definitely not the way the system is meant to work.

I will check out al anon. Have thought of it before, but didn't believe I qualified. Yes, my father and grandfather were raging alcoholics, but my father abandoned us when I was born, so I never really knew him. Even though I put alcoholic in the title of this question, I'm not 100% certain my mother is an alcoholic. She doesn't drink every day, and she usually just drinks wine. For several weeks she'll go through most of a 1.5 litre bottle per day, and then say she's swearing it off and not drink any for a couple of days. Normally there isn't any of the hard stuff in the house. When there is, it's gone in a day or two at the most, but since it's not normally there, I don't know if she "needs" it or not.

A couple of years ago, when I was still working outside home, I would call her during the day to check on her, and her mental state terrified me, because I thought she might be getting Alzheimer's. It wasn't until she drove the couple of miles one day to pick me up after work, and I suddenly realized she had just driven drunk, that I knew the problem wasn't dementia. I took over all driving after that; it was time, anyway.
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I feel so sorry for you. What an awful situation to have to deal with, especially alone. I work in a hospital and this is what I would do. The next time she gets wasted, call an ambulance and take her to the ER. Tell them of her suicide threats. I don't know about your hospital, but here they would call in mental health to assess her. If she qualifies, and she sure sounds like she would, they would have her admitted somewhere she can get help. She doesn't have a choice once they make their decision. If that doesn't work, there must be home health agencies in your area. Talk to her physician. Does he even know what you are going through? Even though she is 80 years old, she needs to take responsibility for her life. You are not responsible for her decisions. Whatever you decide to do, please get help for yourself. God bless you. I will keep you and your mother in my prayers.
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There are two endings for Alcoholics... sobriety or death.
I am so sorry you are watching this.
Go to AlAnon and you will learn how powerless you are over the alcohol and you will learn that you are POWERFUL over your own life and your own life choices. You are not alone. We are here and the fellowship of Al-Anon contains hundreds of thousands of men and women who have faced the very same things you are facing. Day by Day you will learn to see the world differently and you will become unstuck.
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Totally agree with LindaGS: only two possible outcomes for your mother. On the other hand you have to make some choices for yourself: are you going to let her drag you down with her? Trust me, give her the chance and she will (I've been there).
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I read and reread your post. Everything you said indicates that your mother is an alcoholic. I've been to Alanon and Narconan because my husband is an alcoholic (he has been sober since 1987) and my adult daughter is a drug addict. I know how people with substance abuse can take over your life. Right now, I am busy taking care of my own 95 year old father, and I don't go to meetings. Make sure you find a group that you like. If you go there and don't have anything in common except for an alcoholic in your life, you won't like it. The group also has some ideas with which I do not agree. However, you will learn how manipulative alcoholics are, and you'll also have a place where you can freely discuss things. You'll also learn about how we sometimes enable them, as well as strategies to deal with them. Getting a hug or two isn't bad, either. Good luck! Write to me anytime!
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BTW: I meant NarAnon not narconon
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Meanwhile - can we get the alcohol out of the house?
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I agree with Ruth. How does the alcohol get in the house?
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if your mother believes she needs alcohol to cope, then she is an alcoholic. the amount of liquor, or the type of liquor she drinks is a non issue. if your mother is bedridden, go ahead and take the alcohol out of the house. do prepare for the resulting fireworks. if she were not bedridden, i would never suggest this. my husband is an alcoholic who still functions although disabled. when i played the "pour it down the sink" game, he merely drove out for more alcohol. not only was it a waste of money, he often drove drunk, (long term alcoholics take a very long time to sober up). after i finished raising my kids i left, and even though i support him, i'm a million times happier.

does your mother have enough income to go into a board and care facility? my mother is on a very limited social security income, but she is in a good home now. the social interaction there has been very positive for her. she is still whiny, complaining, and needy when she calls me, but the calls are coming less frequently now.
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*he often drove drunk to go out and buy more* FIXED
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I hear the "don't give her the alcohol," but I also don't know if I would be strong enough to endure the consequences of withholding alcohol from an alcoholic without real support.

The hard thing is, the only way this story changes is if YOU change it. She won't and can't. Your siblings aren't riding to the rescue. There is no one coming to take her off your hands and get her cleaned up.

So do you go another year, five years, ten years like this? You cannot fix her. Not all of you knows that yet. You are not a bad person to quit being manipulated. Not all of you knows that yet.

AlAnon can help more parts of you stand up for the rest of you. When you do, your mom will get a different kind of care that won't look like the picture today. But I promise, promise, promise you that it will be better care for you both. Sending love and blessings.
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I feel so bad for you and your situation. You must feel so helpless and alone! Are you able to see a doctor for your own health's sake and if so, would you be able to get any input from them? Possibly you've already done this, but maybe even the Al-Anon website could have some type of information that might be helpful for you. It's so hard to look at things objectively when you're so close to the situation. I hope that you can find some relief for this situation soon.
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Yes. You have control over whether or not she gets the alcohol. She won't like it, but there's nothing she can do if you don't give it to her.
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Jane, you're right! Just taking the alcohol away sounds so simple. I will admit that I thought the same thing when I first read the post. I'm no bleeding heart, but it's way too easy for people to judge others who aren't in the same seat. Before anybody looks down their nose at her, they would have to experience her situation. I think everybody in this forum realizes that one of the biggest challenges of being a caretaker is the general lack of help and understanding!
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Cattails again: Go to Al anon and get your head squared away. If you understand your role in enabling or just being a victim of an alcoholic, you will start to see things differently. There is a bigger world beyond your current understanding and you will gain a great amount of wisdom for your effort. Your mother has a drinking problem, note the key word, "problem". She is probably, almost certainly, an alcoholic. You make excuses for her, try to find ways to make it ok, but it 's not ok and the thing that bothers me most is that when your mom is gone, you will find someone else like her, because that is what you know, and repeat this same situation. Educate yourself, not just for your moms sake, most importantly for your sake and for the years you have ahead of you.

I'm not judging you, I'm just suggesting that you educate yourself. After doing that, you can make better decisions, based on new knowledge. I truly wish you happiness and peace. Cattails
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I am sorry to read about current situation with your mom. My mother is also an alcoholic and 82. However, I have had her checked out by every physician available due to some health issues which landed her in the hospital. In short, every physician told me "No Alcohol" because her liver is going South. I give her a beer at the evening meal occasionally but thats it. It is time for you to become the parent and take hold of the situation. She may have some withdrawal symptoms but your physician can guide you on the signs. You need to get her affairs in order making you POA and also enroll her in the county aging office. Unless, you do some of the above you are headed down a very rough road without resolution.
All the best,
Bev
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Alcoholic detox is not for an amateur.
If she looks like she is in pain, get her into a hospital setting.
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I agree that you should get a professional to check her out. Although very few people actually die from withdrawal, there is the possibility of seizures and DTs. At any age, it isn't pretty. At 82, I know I wouldn't take that chance..
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I agree with sandradawn. You should call an ambulance next time she gets wasted. I work as a counselor in a hospital detox. Depending on how much and how often your mother is drinking, eliminating the alcohol at this stage could be life threatening. Stopping abruptly puts her at risk for seizure which could cause death. If she goes to the hospital it would buy you some time to figure out the next course of action. They have social workers on the unit that would help you with discharge planning. At the very least, her alcoholism would be addressed and you would have some direction as to her after care. Not sure where you're head is at but do not feel guilty if this is what you decide to do. Isolating is never the answer
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My Mother is also an alcoholic. She is now living with me and I am her primary caretaker. Depression, alcoholism and drug addiction runs in our family so I know how it goes and how dustructive it can be. I too am a recovering alcoholic/drug addict now 19 years sober. Being raised by an alcoholic Mother is not easy. When I began my recovery I attended "Adult Children of Alcoholics" meetings - ACOA - along with Alanon. I recommend it very highly. It puts you on a path of understanding why you are who you are and how to deal with it. My Mother still drinks daily - but there is nothing I can do. She has dementia now and also an alcoholic "wet brain". I have had to accept all of my hostile feelings for her and forgive her. I also made sure I set personal boundries that I will not let her cross. Now I look at her as an old women who needs my help. Acceptance is a powerful healer.
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i have also found that while some of the general concepts of Al-Anon to be helpful, and some of the people there to be supportive, that the meetings can at times, be very depressing. they do turn into a btch/gripe/moan session occasionally. i also do not hold with the one concept of wives refusing to pay bills when alcoholic husbands do not take care of things and otherwise letting everything fall apart just to let him hit bottom. i always took care of my home and children so that they would not suffer for my husband's illness. you can still learn some things in those meetings. try a few, you might find one more helpful than another.

a group that i found Very helpful was Co-dependents Anonymous. they were more upbeat and were very much about making changes in my own life. they helped me realize that i could still reach my potential and enjoy some kind of joy and peace regardless of my circumstances. i'm not perfect mind you, still working on this. lolz.
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My Mom is in Assisted Living and Dad is in a Nursing Home and I did lots of caregiving for them before they were placed so I can sympathize with how you feel. I know how timeconsuming and painful it is. My first reaction email brief post was to remove all alcohol from the house, hiding it won't do. I also suggest you take her to a DR. that specializes in Geriatrics. It is vital to your health and happiness to seek outside assistance from your local Area Agency on Aging or County or State agencies for your Mom. They can set you up with a Home Health Aide to give you a break. They can be extremely helpful in getting you through this and have many suggestions. I am an alcoholic but I also read daily books for Al-ANon every morning when I first get up. Unfortunately, I don't go to AA meetings anymore but remain sober. I also suffer from Anxiety and Depression and take 3 psych meds. You definitely should not drink with those.
How does your Mom feel about living in nursing home? This may sound cruel, but maybe that is where she needs to be for her own sake. Psych meds don't start working right away, so maybe she wasn't on it long enough.
If going to the Dr when she has a problem and he tells her nothing is wrongand she is better right away,if you can afford it, could you take her to the Dr. more often? Or maybe have her talk to him on the phone, making sure you can hear what the Dr says. God bless for all that you have done for your Mom, remember, to be a good caregiver, you have to take care of yourself.
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You are known as an enabler. You actually find nothing wrong with feeding her alcohol for her afflictions and being her personal servant. You both need help. Her for her alcohol addiction and you for your codependence. It seems you two have coexisted in this lifestyle year after year. This is not a problem you can handle alone anymore, but it starts with you doing something. Alcohol Anonymous and Alynon costs nothing. Start there and you will find a support system that will help guide you in the next direction. You have to want to do it or you will get to continue living in that miserable existence.
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