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Honeybee85 Asked January 2020

My dad is being a jerk to my mom.

My mom is stuck in a marriage that she doesn't want. In the last three years, a lot of things has changed for me. My dad tries to repair the damaged relationship which is good but then verbally attacks my mom every other day (which is why mom wants out) and kicks my brother out. My mom was going to give him an ultimatum and now finds out that he has Alzheimer's beginning stages. What is my mom to do? He's been acting this way before the Alzheimer's?

lealonnie1 Jan 2020
Your mom should call 911 if your father as much as TOUCHES her with any violence. She can then get a restraining order against him and proceed with a divorce, if that's what she wants to do.

You can't really do anything here because it's her marriage. She's been putting up with this behavior for a long time now, so she is the one who has to say ENOUGH and then actually do something about changing the situation.

If you are in the home and witness ANY sort of physical violence, you too can place a call to 911. Let your mom know that you intend to do just that if you see him raise a hand to her at any time.

Keep yourself safe as well.

Good luck!

CrystalDenver Jan 2020
Financially stuck? Coping with Alzheimer's is awful under the best of circumstances; your Mom is in one of the worst circumstances, as you know. Is there an Alzheimer's Support Group available in your community?
Is there a local women's abuse shelter for counseling? (Ask Police Dept.)
Is there a doctor who can help communicate possibilities for community help to your Mom? I believe all your Mom can do is save herself, no matter how much she has loved or loves your father, because verbally abusive relationships many times escalate to physical abuse. You, too, need to look out for yourself and stay out of the middle of any confrontations.

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bluefinspirit Jan 2020
Not your problem. It's your mom's. Just let her know you're there for her whatever she decides. If their relationship was gone already, your dad's Alzheimer's should have no bearing on your mother's decision.

BarbBrooklyn Jan 2020
HoneyBee; If your dad had a change in mental status and went from being a nice guy to being physically abusive, he needs to be investigated by a competent psychiatrist or neurologist.

Many years ago, a friend who is a psychiatrist was acting as a consultant to a big city fire department. A respected chief had suddenly, out of nowhere, started physically and verbally abusing his wife. She, a smart cookie, called his chief who reported this to the chief medical officer of the FD.

My friend interviewed the fire fighter. He said "I talked to him for about 5 minutes, and I knew EXACTLY where the tumor was located".

I still get chills when I tell that story. The surgery was successful and both the career and the marriage were fine.

Upstream Jan 2020
Whoa, protect yourself first. After 50 years of marriage, my dad entered the early stages of dementia and mom became horribly verbally abusive to him. She refused to care for him, and told me he was now "my responsibility". I saw it through, moved him into a memory care facility, and after almost three years there he died two months ago. Mom was awful through the whole thing and continued her verbal abuse at his care home. Now he's dead and I'm still stuck watching over her care. It's been a nightmare and I am now in counseling/therapy. I suggest staying out of their marital relationship to the greatest extent possible. I had to be a referee for the last two years or so that my dad lived at home and it really took a toll on me. If you wade into these waters, you will be drowning quickly.
Honeybee85 Jan 2020
I understand what you're saying but before the three years, he was almost to the point where it got physical. He dragged me by the hair up the stairs. I'm just worried that with this temper of his, it will get physical towards her. His anger is unprovoked. You would sit there and do absolutely nothing it's like he thrives on drama
BarbBrooklyn Jan 2020
Is it possible that this "jerky" behavior was part of a broader picture of cognitive decline BEFORE dad's diagnosis?

Was this a good marriage before the last 3 years?

Has your mother asked for your advice?
Honeybee85 Jan 2020
The marriage was terrible for the last 15 years. He cheated on my mom, went on trips for days and didnt announce it. He treated me terribly. He yelled and cursed at her without being provoked. Did the same to me and kicked out my brother
Els1eL Jan 2020
If he has been treating her this way long before the diagnosis of Alzheimers, then there are two options. It sounds like your mother has had about enough that she can take and believe me, looking after someone with Alzheimers is very very hard. It only gets worse as time progresses. If you think it’s bad in the early stages, which it is, you would certainly not want to be around in the mid to late stages. He may probably become violent, incontinent of both urine and faeces, lose control of his muscles so become wheelchair/bed bound, require all food to be puréed as he will eventually find it difficult to swallow and a whole lot of other things too numerous to mention. It is not pleasant for him but very unpleasant for a full time carer. It takes over your life, you have no time to call your own, are interrupted night after night so get no sleep and you are exhausted and done.
First option - put him into a home equipped to look after Alzheimers patients.
Second option - file for divorce.
Good luck.

HelloImMinsu Jan 2020
File for divorce? I doubt counseling will work if he has alzheimers. Could also put him in a home.

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