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MaggieMai Asked April 2019

How do you cope with a live in elderly FIL?

He is not a bad man. He is 85 and is in need of attention. I work from home as does my husband. Every morning when he hears me in kitchen getting coffee he comes out to talk. When I come downstairs for lunch with husband he joins us. I cook dinner for him and the three of us eat dinner together every night. Then he hangs around his son and I until we go to bed. He gets our mail everyday and sorts it out. He makes his bed. That’s the only chores he does around house. I buy his food, pay for any dry cleaning etc. Husband takes him to all his appointments. I do understand his brain is aging. I feel sorry he has no one else. I think it’s sad he isn’t involved with any activities. I am getting tired of his constant presence and the attention he takes away from my husband that I would like. I feel so bad feeling this way. I am also resentful of husband not arranging for a care giver or support type person to come in a couple or few days a week to drive FIL around to barber, podiatrist, store, etc as well as bring in someone to be a paid companion. Is it normal for me to be feeling resentful of an old man that is 85 and also resentful his son is taking me for granted by not getting someone in? Is this burnout or am I being selfish and unloving?

shad250 Apr 2019
He needs female or male companionship. See if hubby can take him out bar, bingo, I etc to see if he can hook up.

BarbBrooklyn Apr 2019
Why haven't you looked into Assisted Living for him?
MaggieMai Apr 2019
He says that going to assisted living is worse than being in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. We did tell him he has a home with us and he never had to worry but he honestly is a complete part of our life now. No boundaries. Wish I could put him in a separate home. That’s not going to happen m

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Tothill Apr 2019
Isn't this a repeat of your question from a month ago?
Ahmijoy Apr 2019
I wondered that too. If so, OP needs to revisit the answers.

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