My father and I have never been close..In fact I truly feel he cares nothing for me at all. What can I do?

What is you father's condition that he needs a caregiver? Does he have mobility problems? Hearing/vision loss? Cancer? Dementia? Your mother was probably right that he doesn't know how to do anything, but is there a medical reason for that?

Did your mother realize that your father abused you? If she did and she still made the request that you take care of him, I think you don't need to take that too seriously. She must have either been delusional at the time or was definitely not acting in mother-mode!

But you can still honor that unrealistic request your mother made. Dad doesn't know how to clean house. Fine. You help him find a house cleaner. There are agencies that offer that service, and also individuals who advertise in local papers and on grocery store bulletin boards, etc. "Dad, I'm not going to be able to clean for you after next week, but I can help you find a cleaner to come in once a week or every other week." Since he claims you don't do anything for him anyway, how can he complain that you are doing less?

Many cleaning services will do the laundry also. Many towns have cleaning establishments that will pick up and deliver.

Put as much of his bill-paying as you possibly can on auto-pay from his checking account.

See what kind of senior transportation is available for him. Or a cab can take him to his appointments.

Could he sign up for Meals on Wheels? Is there a delivery service in your town for restaurant meals? Can he run a microwave to heat up frozen dinners?

You cannot insist that he go to a retirement community, etc. But you certainly can make decisions about what you do with your own time. I'd say seven years of waiting on a man who doesn't respect you and has abused you is about five-and-a-half years too many. You would have been honoring your mother's wishes if you had simply gradually arranged for him to have the help he needs and/or taught him how to wash a load of clothes, etc.

What can you do? Stand up for yourself. Don't be bullied by an unrealistic request from your mother or by guilt trips from your father.

Please explain.

Does he live in your home? Do you live with him?
What care do you provide?
What is the state of his need?

More information please

I live next door but make frequent visits during the coarse of a day..I do everything..Cook,clean,wash,doctors visits, make out monthly bills..etc...He basically does nothing but goes from his bed to his recliner to watch FoxNews,where he spends the entire day up until bed time..He gives me no respect and its difficult to deal with him without any legal authority..I would like to see him a retirement home or somewhere else but he will never agree to leave. I'm at my witt's end!...