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My dad died almost 6 years ago and her only reason for going on seemed to have been to care for him. My brother and I became concerned when she called my brother almost 2 years ago to tell him that she could not find my dad and had been looking for him for a few days. She was extremely physically sick when she first moved in but in time she appeared to be more cognizant of her surroundings. It took us almost a year of going back and forth to the hospital to find out that she had a case of severe perforated diverticulitis. This was after other hospitalizations that yielded no clue as to what she was going through. Her recovery has been long. She has lost about 100 pounds in the last 3 years all total. She is becoming paranoid about the doctors and is seriously depressed. She has slowly isolated herself into her bedroom upstairs. She has succeeded in getting a small compact refrigerator, a microwave, toaster, small coffee pot, television, echo and small utility cabinet in her bedroom. The adjoining closet is organized with medical supplies, toilet paper, and paper towel. We have a small bathroom which shares a wall with the end of her closet. She has paid to have that bathroom remodeled. I have a difficult time lately getting her to even come down the chair lift to join us as a family. She prefers to remain in her room. When I try to speak to her about her increasing isolation she just says she is sick or in pain and that I don't understand. She doesn't fully listen or comprehend what I am saying or the doctors when they speak to her or try to explain information to her. She is says she is not actively wishing to die but her quality of life is so poor that she would be okay with passing on. She asked me a few months ago if I thought my dad would recognize her when she gets to Heaven. I said, I think so. I had 3 siblings all males. My oldest brother lives 70 miles from here but is battling health issues of his own. My younger brother lives about 45 miles away and works 7 days a week. He calls frequently but is unable to visit very often. His job also involves sporadic travel. I will be retired 2 years as of December 2017. I feel so far in over my head. My husband has health issues as well having had triple bypass 3 years ago. He also has uncontrolled blood sugars. Sorry this is long. I just needed to vent I guess. Don't know what to do when my mom is in so much pain.

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I am so sorry to hear about your mother's situation. It sounds heartbreaking and you obviously care for her very much. Others will probably have some better suggestions as to possible medical or care approaches to consider and so on but just brainstorming here I am wondering if it might be possible to arrange a friendly visitor (perhaps through a church or an organization like Jewish Family and Children's Services, which I volunteered as a visitor with for many years and is great) to come for a little visit, to have someone not family or a medical professional, someone she wouldn't feel obligated to in some way, just spend a half hour with her affirming her value as someone worth talking to and being with? Maybe that could help break through the isolation a bit? Another idea is possibly paying for a session or two of therapeutic massage, by a therapist knowledgeable about doing gentle treatments on elderly/ill individuals. A seriously ill, fragile friend of mine has derived great comfort from just a few such treatments. There's something special about human touch, and this would be again without family or medical expectations perhaps making it hard (for her in her very frail state) to accept.

Anyway, just some ideas and I hope others have some suggestions as well. Best to you and your husband and family during this very difficult time.
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