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My father who had been living in MC died a couple of weeks ago. Now most everyone is telling/expecting me to place Mom in AL since "now you don't have to worry about the money running out".


Before a fall in Sep 2018, Mom with MCI and almost no short term memory, lived with me and completed all her ADLs except for washing her hair (arthritis in shoulders is too bad now for her to lift her arms much higher than her ears) and could stay alone for several hours with the monitoring support I have in my house. Immediately after the fall, Mom was basically bed bound and needed a lot of help. She has been recovering from the fall and is doing well with a walker in the house but has not regained her confidence. She wants me to watch her while she walks through the house or to the bathroom. She also suffered additional cognitive decline following the fall so I do not leave her alone anymore except for very brief drop-off/pick-up trips maybe once a week or so. She is much more dependent on me as her "security blanket".


Doctor and PT expects she will fully recover walking ability. No one knows whether cognitive will improve as she physically improves or not. I'm hoping she will but planning as though she will not. I have arranged adult day care 3 days a week (6 hours a day), in home PT 2 days a week, and in home respite care 6-12 hours a weekend so I can attend the grandkid's sporting events and other local events I enjoy. I have an aunt (Mom's younger sister) who is my emergency backup care giver and a brother who is willing to sit with her after work if I need to be elsewhere. Although I am responsible for arranging 24/7 coverage, I am not stuck at home 24/7 and get at least a small break almost every day. My aunt and her daughter (my cousin the registered nurse) are going to take Mom for 10 days this summer so I can enjoy a vacation with the grandkids.


Although Mom certainly qualifies for AL or maybe MC, she is still doing well at my home and prefers to be here where she sees the family coming and going (kids and grandkids visit 1-2 times a week and at least 1-2 great-grandkids visit daily). In fact Mom doesn't care for day care all that much, often telling me she would rather just stay home.


Mom is 87 with a couple of long standing chronic conditions (spinal stenosis, thyroid, pernicious anemia) but no major health problems, so she could easily live another 10-12 years. My grandmother lived more than 4 years after a fall at 81 that rendered her bed bound and she was suffering CHF at the time of the fall. Mom's overall health today is much better than my grandmother's was at 75. The in home care support costs about 30% of AL/MC and even if those costs increase significantly the money should outlast her life expectancy with enough for a good facility the last 2-3 years. Having enough money is important but it's not everything - Mom's quality of care and happiness are important too. I believe I provide a better quality of care than she would experience in AL/MC. Most of her friends have already died and with her short term memory problems she cannot really make new friends that well. The folks at day care like and remember her, but she doesn't remember them very well.


Since she is happy here and I do not feel I am sacrificing my life to provide her care I see no reason to push her into AL. I promised Mom she could live with me as long as we could make it work but have always stated that when she needed true nursing care she would need to move to a facility where I would make sure she has good care (my bad back won't take some care giving tasks for very long). I placed Dad in MC when I believed that was in his best interests and I will place Mom if I need to - but I just don't think we are there yet. Why is everyone (who have never engaged in her care) think I should? My aunt and my brother (who do help with her care) think she is doing well with me too.


If only the peanut gallery would leave me alone!

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Why do they think they know best... ooo, I think we all find other people's problems terribly easy to solve, don't we?! And the more ignorant we are of the detail the easier it is.

Actually I thought you were going to give us a punchline, up there! :)

Is the real question: can I have 101 ways to tell these people what to do with their unsolicited advice?
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In my experience the vast majority who haven't been-there-done-that just assume that all old people who aren't independent belong in nursing homes, in fact I know that people were taken aback and thought I was very strange when they found out that I wasn't employed and that my "job" was taking care of my mother.
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debbye Mar 2019
I have found this to be true, also. I've had several comments on my posts that maybe it's time to put mom in a facility. My sister believes she should be in one. I live with her and have not been as successful as the original poster in lining up outside help. But I know in my heart that putting her in a facility is not the right thing to do. When I can no longer take care of her, different story, but not now. People who make these comments have no idea what someone's situation is or what they would do in the same situation.
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I think you have it all together. You have help and you have made sure you get time to yourself. I agree with you. Mom does better with you at this point.
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Good afternoon, TNtechie,

I wonder if they wrongly think you are burned-out or overwhelmed with caregiving and think this is an opportunity to get some relief? You have explained to us in detail what a wonderful support system you have set up to keep your mother at home and get respite for you. If you really cared about these people giving you uncalled for advice, you perhaps could print out what you just wrote and give it to them. Otherwise, no reply is warranted as it is not their business. I pray that your mother heals well from her fall, and that she continues to thrive under your care.
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I imagine they're seeing the toll that care taking has taken on you, and they're trying to look out for you. They also may feel bad that they aren't helping more, or don't know how to because you're doing the heavy lifting.
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Anything that’s really difficult to do is ALWAYS easier before finding yourself called upon to do it.
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You're doing a great job with your Mom and have a wonderful support system in place! She is truly blessed to have a multi-generational family that comes to visit so regularly!

As for those people who, possibly with the best of intentions, try to tell you how to run your lives, you also seem to be handling them just fine as well. You can tell them anything from, "Thank you, we're doing just fine, " to, "That's really none of your bloody business," depending on whether they really mean to be helpful and supportive or actually become invasive and insensitive.

Sometimes people with the best of intentions can be the hardest to deal with. I think they think their concern gives them special privileges to push the boundaries of propriety. Like CMouse said above, you need 101 ready answers for when they take you by surprise. Maybe write some down and practice saying them (even the outrageous ones!) to give yourself permission to use them when the need arises.

Meanwhile, blessings to you and your Mom. How fortunate you are to have one another! 💕
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Short answer, because they feel guilty they would not be willing to do what you are doing. Ignore them.
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Nettijo Mar 2019
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Please ignore the peanut gallery! for whatever reason we have become a society that thinks we not only know everything but that our opinions are the only ones that hold any merit. As long as your mother is happy and you are able to continue the care she needs ‘and you want to’ then it is your decision not aunts or cousins. I am sure they are well meaning but you need to do what is best for your mom and you. Good luck and continue to enjoy your momma. Mine lives with me and will be 95 this summer, I am truly Blessed
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I can see why you feel so fed up with this, particularly as it appears to have happened over and over again. Just one other way to take it is that these people have been important enough in your life and your mother’s life to contact you with interest and concern for both of you. It’s not what you want, but getting angry with them isn’t helping you or your mother. Alienating them may not be in your best long-term interests - your mother enjoys her visitors! ‘We’re doing fine at the moment, but that may be something to think about eventually – not for now’ is totally accurate and less stressful all round. You are doing a great job, just keep your head together.
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