Mom's house is filthy. What to do?

I should add that as a loving caregiver and nurse, the sibling is wonderful. But Mom has just recovered from an animal-feces related infection-what the doctor says-but the sibling refuses to admit that this is the case.

Carmine, since your sibling is a caregiver to your Mom, maybe, just maybe she just doesn't have the time or energy to keep the house in a clean and neat order.

I always had a clean house, but once I had to start helping my parents at their house [I didn't do any cleaning or making things neat as Mom was still able to do that] I noticed I didn't have the energy to tackle any cleaning at my own house. I was lucky to keep on top of all of my own laundry.

Everyone has their own level of keeping things clean, and it also could be that your sibling doesn't feel this is all that important, thus her cleaning "bar" is set very very low.

Surprised the cleaning crew had quit.... usually a quality company, like Service Master, will charge an arm and a leg for the first deep cleaning, then charge less each week or half week thereafter.

Yes they quit - It really is that dirty :-( not just my random taste in cleaning. It seems to border on dangerous. And my sibling just thinks it is OK to walk in the house as if it were a barn with animal filth shoes. IS that OK? The neatness issue I can be much more understanding about.

It's dirty because my sibling moved in with her many large dogs, several goats and some chickens. The formerly lovely yard is now a barnyard. That's what gets tracked in. Mom is feeble, not sick or with dementia; she needs help with food preparation and in case she falls while walking around the house. I'm afraid of ongoing infections from the dirt.

I would try a different cleaning service, perhaps one that does hazmat or crime scene cleanup.

You might call your local area agency on aging to inquire about services your mom may be eligible for.

Depending on where your mom lives, there may be code violations having barnyard animals in a residential neighborhood.

You send a written request to the adult protective services in mom's county, asking them to investigate.

The sibling and her zoo is the problem. That's ridiculous. If you can't get her and her animals out call the local authorites or walk away and let the neighbors do it.

Your sibling sounds mentally ill. The doctor says it's a feces related infection and she denies it? It doesn't sound as though sibling is competent to be a caregiver.

I agree Babalou, the sister is either burned out badly or somewhat demented herself. APS can sort it out.

Carmine94708, sign at front door and back door "TAKE SHOES OFF WHEN ENTERING HOUSE". And have a shoe rack at both doors. That should help with the mess on the shoes staying at the doors.

Carmine, we had a neighbor lady in TX. She lived with her husband, who kept the house very clean until he died. Then his daughter moved in to care for her mother. She brought with her the hound from hell. She left the dog in her mother's apartment all day while she went to work. She left it a bath mat to do its business on. The dog would bite everyone, so no one could help with it. The dog even bit me! No other dog has ever done that.

Anyway... the dog pooped and peed all over the entire apartment. It smelled horrible. The stench and dog food brought in the mice, so soon the apartment was a health hazard. The mice also spread throughout the building, so we neighbors were also having problems.

The dog had Cushings, so was put to sleep a few months later. It was sad, but I saw what animals who are not properly tended can do to a house in a very short time. Your concern is very real. The animals need to go outside to do their business. If your sister can't do that, then she needs to rehome the animals. Having pets comes with a responsibility to keep the pets and the home healthy. I feel sorry for the animals and your mother. My neighbor's home was nauseating and unhealthy from one dachshund, and it only took a few weeks. I know your mother's home is even worse.

I forgot to add that the daughter caregiver was a disaster herself. She piled her dirty laundry in the bathroom next to the dog's proposed poop-pee rug. Her bedroom was a cluttered disaster. I used to help the mother by taking her to doctor appointments and get her medications. I would also visit with her and have coffee. It was very sad and sickening. The daughter was a train wreck who didn't need to be doing any caregiving. Maybe your mother needs a different caregiver who is a professional. If your sister is anything like this woman's daughter is, you may want to talk your mother into some alternative.

Oh, I just noticed the animals are outside and your sister just tracks it in. If that is the case, Freqflyer had excellent advice. Horse ranchers always remove their boots at the door.

Not sure if these ideas are any good but try the humane society. If sister isn't caring for the animals properly perhaps they can help. Also look into building pens for the animals to keep them ( and their poop) contained. It sounds like sister isn't cleaning it up. It doesn't do much good to get house keepers if the poop isn't being removed. My husband was so upset with his father at one time for not allowing his mother the care she needed that he turned him into elder abuse. They explained to my husband that things had to be pretty bad before they could do anything. The circumstances that would be significant sounded a lot like what you describe here. So check into that. Do you have POA? Look into that. If you think you would not be your moms first choice, be careful about bringing it up in case sister goes for it. I'm an old country girl and would not want the animals to be harmed in anyway but they might go missing if it were my mother living in filth. Stranger things have happened. I should probably remove that statement but just saying.
Remove carpet. Have only easily maintained floors. Someone who doesn't remove poop probably won't remove shoes. Flies will be a big problem. Your mother is living with a person who needs help herself. However, although it doesn't sound like it, you might be biased, so seek the outside help. Ask for police or sheriffs department to make a check. If you know the neighbors ask them to complain to whatever authorities are available. Your sisters denial of the drs findings on your moms illness is really distressful. That's really the worst thing you posted. You have to take action. I know it's a thankless task but necessary. At one time social stigma would have helped you. We are pretty much dependent on government intervention in the times we live in. Put your head down and move forward. Your mom is depending on you and so is your sister.