At breaking point...

Ash: I will be praying for you. God can get you through what seems like very difficult circumstances.

Ash: Get POA in place quickly. Good luck. God bless!

Seriously, do the best you can under whatever circumstances. If people really wanted to help they would, freedom of choice, works both ways. Conservation of energy and accumulation of energy also works both ways.
Find your middle ground and then, stand your ground. If you have good principles and have done your homework, then you know it is incumbent on the “stronger” to help the weak.
When I help or do something, it is all the way or I don’t start. No half measures. If it is your parents who gave you the best, then you give them the best. Under all and any circumstances. It is the same with trust & Faith, and also loving someone.

I’m actually feeling lucky a certain lady everybody wrote off happened to need help and I got to know her background story a little better.

The cycle of blame is what’s killing the planet. So, personally, I choose to end it with me.

I shall all love Persecuted of The Persecuted and Misunderstood of the Misunderstood because, it is both the right thing to do and also the perfect match. No judgement, will ever be able to justify such oppression and ignorance.

Be honest and very clear with the doctor, the social worker at the hospital and the social worker at the nursing home. You must make it clear that you and your mom cannot provide care. Make it clear that they are being discharged back to a home with just the two of them. This discharge will likely be deemed unsafe and the social worker will have to find a placement for one or both.
Please ignore anyone telling you to "suck it up". (On this website, let's keep it positive, let's keep it kind!). Real people have jobs, spouses, kids, health problems of their own. We do what we can. If you don't take care of yourself, you can't take care of anyone else.
Medical people will go the easy route and assume you can be a 24hr nurse. I once went to pick someone up at an ER. The nurse tried to give me instructions for caring for the person for the next few days. I said, hey, I'm just the Uber driver and now I'm leaving. I told the patient---I'll fix it with Uber, no charge.

Ash, now that your grandpa has been in the hospital and a nursing home is discussed, make sure the social worker and discharge planner know he cannot go home because your grandma cannot take care of him. Don't give them the impression that you will take care of them. Make sure they know that they live alone, and grandma may be heading to assisted living. You don’t need POA to tell them that. It will be helpful to have soon, however.

Ash; You and mom and grandma have to stand firm that you CANNOT safely care for him at home.

At some point, you have to balance the wishes of the elder with the realities of the care available in the home.

Check out the I'm so Disheartened and Angry thread on this board and discover the 2 year journey of a daughter in law and her attempts to get her MIL the care she NEEDED.

Sometimes you need to just stand up and say "no, I can't do this anymore" and mean it.

If your grandparents have medical insurance, the company usually can help with covering the cost or assist with recommending other resources for them. Of course, they'll have to want/accept the help. You must talk more in depth with them -- for all involved. I'm currently having similar issues. I was forced to take an early retirement payout and reduce my work hours to part time status to periodically monitor my parent. I plan to move her in with me; this is the most agreeable option for me.

If they are still cognizant, why not get a life alert? Just push a button and it summons help. but they have to be really cognizant, that is "with it". Another option is assisted living facility. If they can manage their own bowels and bladder they are suitable for assisted living. if they require around-the-clock care it will have to be a nursing home.

In no way, can they continue to live in their own home. Something must be remedied that they file for Medicaid to get into a Nursing Home and that may be the best option as their health needs are probably more than an Assisted Living could handle.

Without knowing your grandparents' finances or even the state you live in, it is hard to give specific advice. However, they may qualify for help in the home through Medicaid or other community services. My parents were low income and when they were going through something like what you are describing, I was able to apply them for Medicaid. Doing that made the long-term care application a few months later easier for dad, and allowed my mother, who lived at their home some help there. The in-home care doesn't require one to be as poor as Medicaid demands. Other possibilities are meals on wheels which also doubles as a well check and programs such as fuel assistance and food stamps that can free up money for private in-home care. If your grandmother or grandfather is a veteran, they may qualify for reimbursement of some medical expenses like supplemental insurance premiums, the cost of adding railings and other adaptive things; again, that frees up a little money for private-in home care. Your family needs to assess their needs and what programs they might qualify for. Your grandparent's needs are something that can change from day to day and each grandparent may need different things. Try to balance the needs of each without sacrificing one for the other. In other words, protect and encourage the independence and quality of life of your grandfather. I just read that your granddad is in hospital. They are keeping him for three days so that he will qualify for rehab. Give him a chance in rehab to see how fit and well he becomes. He may be able to discharge in much better shape. If so apply him to a community in-home program, like Frail Elder Waiver that can provide adult day care programs or in-home personal care and help with light housekeeping. If he qualifies for a program like that, it often helps when and if he requires a nursing home. If grandmother needs long-term care and grandfather stays in the apartment, that's what you do. Medicaid Long Term Care allows the community spouse a certain number of assets and income so they can pay for home expenses. Just make sure that if it ends up this way, that granddad can get to the nursing home regularly to see her (ie. council on aging vans, taxi, and rides from family and friends.) My journey with mom and dad started in earnest in 2014. It was my dad who required nursing home care first, while mom lived at home for another 2 1/2 years. She received help from a community program until a fractured hip and other medical issues required nursing home care for a year. There was a point where they were in the same facility (he in long term nursing and she in rehab) and it was so much easier to see them at the same time! But they had to qualify for nursing home care and often, they weren't on the same timeline. Good luck with everything. Hope this helps.

It does not sound like they are NH material unless you are trying to just ditch them so you can get back to your real life guilt free or such.

This is what you do, you suck it up as a life throws you curve balls and speed bumps. You stay with them till grandma is better and make sure grandpa doesn't have anything serious going on except for tripping over a carpet-maybe buy him new shoes, encourage use of wheelchairs and walkers-go to his doc with him. GET THEM ON MEDICAID which can and will provide inhome support.

If you cannot do that, you hire someone to stay with them. Give them a chance to heal from the fall. Give it a month, or two. If things STILL stay on the down hill slope you talk ASSISTED LIVING...not just waste can them into a *hithole nursing home because you are frustrated. Its all about speed bumps with elders. There are bad patches and then there is recovery. Do not block that road to recovery by being so NH trigger happy.

And PS I am sure they are getting a little income and so are you and your mother. x's that by 4, toss in MEDICAID and you CAN get in home care. Maybe not 24 hours a day but someone who could cook, clean, check in etc.

The nursing home will help with setting up Medicaid once Medicare no longer will fund the cost. Don’t let him be discharged as it sounds like he can no longer care for himself. Is your grandma in need of a nursing home also?
if she has fallen or does fall she may need to leave her home also.
Do not be quilt tripped into taking them home as “ you promised need to put me in a home “ no one ever has that right to make you say such a promise

Hi I care for my mom 24/7 I know the feeling. She got sick in July was bedridden with high bld pressure, UTI, eye infections which now caused her blindness. I called her Dr fur home care but wasn't very helpful until my cousin told me to call Visiting Nurses and visiting physicians. I did, then calked moms Dr back told them to send referral to VNA. So had them temporarily for a month with aides, social worker etc. Medicare pays for it. You should call Medicaid for them too. The social worker should help you if she's good. It was alot of work on my part with VNA/GPS but helpful. Good luck.
PS I'm trying to find good meditation or prayer to start my morn, any suggestions

I would call me Medicare, the Dept of Health, Dept of Aging in your area.

I truly feel your worry and pain, though my awful journey with my husband ended in November. This breaking point you are facing will take it's serious toll. Have you tried contacting the primary care doctor and talking to him/her about bringing a Social worker into the mix? Or possibly looking online for a resource group that can help you? I was very lucky to have found one in my area and could not have survived these last year's without them. None of this will be easy, I know. My husband resisted every effort too, and that hurt a lot, but your love is strong. Look under dementia care and elder help resources. Every fall, every hospitalization increases the severity and downhill spiral of their lives. They are not able to see their situationally, but you may find that their health plan offers a lot if home health help and these folks really know how to talk to them to make them safe. Sending lots of hugs. 🐻🐻🐻

Read the Medicare Jimmo Settlement .. this will explain your inpatient vs observation rights before skilled care will pay.

Most people think as was recommended..calling APS..is a bad thing but they have given several families I know..in home care temporarily.

If their income is limited..they may qualify for Ihss through social services. If either were in the military..they could qualify for in home care. Angela

I am so sorry that you are suddenly inundated with this overwhelming responsibility. It takes a while to put together a support system and even then it’s not easy. You have gotten some good advice on contacting your local agency on aging for help. A few other (off the top of my head) suggestions of quick help that could buy you time to put together a longer term plan:

1) make contact with their primary physician. Maybe that doctor can prescribe Home Health Services. My mom’s physician did that and we had an RN coming out 1 or 2 times a week. She assessed the home for safety and changes to make to improve safety. She also monitored her vital signs and communicated with her doctor (and me). We also were able to get Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy visits at home that helped her be more capable and safe. They also became resources to give my mom a reality check. These services are generally limited in time / amount of visits although they can be “renewed “. They could however help you and your mother quickly.

2) meals on wheels could be of assistance. Or a service that delivers food pre-cut with easy instructions (I used homechef.com) that makes food preparation easier

3)I put together a WhatsApp and FB message group of relatives giving status. Many responded and I was able to ask for help from some of them. Sometimes it was just that they came for a visit but a couple were willing to step up for more coverage to give me some respite. If nothing else it made me feel less alone and when I read some of the messages to my mother it made her feel remembered and loved.

4) my mother has an hmo plan for her Medicare coverage. I contacted them and found a “case worker/ advocate “ that I was able to talk to. He is currently looking into mobile physician options within her plan for my mom. I don’t know where you live but in Los Angeles there are a number of mobile physician groups that take MediCare.

Are there any other relatives that can help you even short term?

Nothing prepared me for caregiving and it’s gone through many phases each requiring different solutions. It is exhausting. People will say to me “don’t forget to take care of yourself “. I know that they mean well but that just makes me want to scream because- Duh, I would really like to take care of my myself but who is going to take this rock off my back so that I can still down and rest?? But it is true. There are ways to do it within time and money constraints. One of the most helpful self care things that I did was to incorporate a short morning meditation before getting out of bed. Other things that helped me: Stopping to Breathe slowly and deeply when the anxiety starts to wash over me, drinking lots of water, going to bed earlier than normal, and eating well to bolster my own reserves. And a therapist for myself.

I know that there was more that I did at this stage of her care and will add as I think of them. In the meantime - hugs!

Call your local Area Agency on Aging. Ask then to do a needs assessment. If the situation is dire, call either 911 or Adukt Protective Services.