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In a nutshell; Ten years ago, my mother took a fall and my sister and I decided that she would either need to live in a nursing home or live with one of us. If you knew my mother, you would know she wouldn't last long in a nursing home. She is in a wheelchair, very shy and frail.


At that time, my sister agreed to let me have the money from mother's mobile home instead of mother going into a nursing home, if I would take care of her. That money allowed me to get out of a bad marriage by putting a payment on a house for mother and myself.
Ten years later, mother is doing well. Everyone acknowledges that I take excellent care of her.


But I have never had a break. My sister refuses to relieve me for even a couple of days. She insists on having the right to come to town every 6 months or so, staying with another family member, visiting a few times for 4 hours or so, but she refuses to spend the night to relieve me.


Mother would never have lasted this long if not for me, my sister acknowledges that. But she insists that it is not her responsibility to ever act as caregiver even for a few days to relieve me.
At this point, I don't want her in my home. Am I forced to allow her into my home to see our mother?


I am depressed and trapped.





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I agree that respite care is the way to go. People who haven't done hands-on eldercare themselves are completely clueless about how much work it is and how uniquely draining it is. You need a break. Your sister isn't going to give it to you so you need to find another way. Explore what insurance options are available and start arranging some support.

Good luck.
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My mother, who “wouldn’t last in a nursing home”, spent 5 1/2 HAPPY, HEALTHY, PRODUCTIVE YEARS in a very nice residential care center near my home.

It is not your sister’s responsibility to “relieve” you. If you assumed the responsibility when your mother needed care, it’s yours.

If you “don’t want her” in your home, find the nicest placement available, near enough to your home, so that you can visit as often as you want to do so, and your sister an do the same.

Your depression and entrapment are not fair to you, but you must make the change. Your mother can’t, and your sister won’t.

Manyof us understand your situation because we have lived it.
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lealonnie1 Oct 2021
The OP does not want her SISTER in her home, not her mother!

I agree with you about elders faring quite well in managed care. In fact, my mother is alive at nearly 95 precisely because she's IN memory care where she's cared for 24/7 by teams of carers and has tons of social interaction.
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like everyone here i am so sorry for your situation.

about your sister ... i think you need to pretend you dont have one. Shes just someone you know from someplace or other.
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You can place mom in a Assisted Living facility for a week or so of Respite so you can get a break.
You can hire caregivers that will come in and help out.
Your sister made it clear 10 years ago what her boundaries are and she is sticking to them.
If you want a break, caregivers are the answer you will not get your sister to do this.
Mom's funds, if any should be used to pay for the caregivers or for the Respite stay.
If mom is on Hospice Medicare, Medicaid and most insurance will cover a Respite stay.
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rovana Oct 2021
Would sister be willing to help financially to provide respite? (No hands-on caregiving)
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So, it doesn't sound intuitive, but I've found that it is easier in some ways to do everything yourself than to try to get help from a family member who is reluctant to help. If you expect them to help, it only causes disappointment and more trouble for you when they don't.

Furthermore, when I feel like I'm not being heard, I feel very trapped. Like am I not describing my suffering well enough for you to understand? Is that why you're not helping? Do you just not care enough about me? etc. And that trapped feeling in turn makes me feel depressed. That's what you're getting with your sister. She's not hearing you, otherwise she'd help, right? But there's a fundamental impasse in her heart or mind that no reasonable amount of talking will break through.

Just assume you're in it on your own. Look for help instead from others who will help, like respite care.
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No, you don't need to allow your sister in your home. Its your home your rules. She can take Mom out somewhere nice.
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Please don't be mad at your sister for not relieving you. She doesn't want to and that's her right. Of course, it would be great for you if she did. Instead, I second the idea that you get some respite care. Put mom in a facility for 2 weeks so you can get a break.

Hire some outside help so that you can regularly get out of the house and spend some time away from your mom.

Let your sister visit. If she comes for 4 hours say that you need to run out to the store so at least you can get out for a short time? But don't try to force her to watch mom if she really doesn't want to. It's OK.
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I'm sorry but your sister is right. It isn't her responsiblity nor is it yours. My sister and I are dealing with the same 'guilt' due to an individual (my mother) who failed to plan her future declining environment. My mother had a large home with land that was difficult to manage with two healthy people. She divorced her husband but was determined to keep the home which was insane the level of work required. (she's 80) Well we begged her to sell and move into a smaller place more managable work wise and money wise. Well fast forward she falls off a ladder and is now in an assistive living screaming and yelling at me and my sister because it is up to us to leave our family, our jobs to come and help her because that is what kids do. I am angry because it is not what kids do. Parents move to their kids location if you want long term care. H
er failure to plan has put a great burden on us. As of this month we have severed our role in her care and have handed her over to the doctor's and assistive living staff to care for her needs. When you do not plan this is your plan, I'm sorry. Being born does not give you any rights to my life. Out of kindness we are managing her finances to allow her to have the best care possible for her level of money she has. It doesn't matter to her as she is angry, spiteful, manipulative and down right mean. I'm not serving that, sorry for your life choices but that's just it - this was her life choices!
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Lisaball Oct 2021
I totally agree!!!!
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atee8s: Imho, do not exhaust any more thoughts nor efforts about your sister being your caregiver 'reliever.' She really never signed up for caregiving, but she gave you a benefit from getting out of a bad marriage and the funds of the mobile home sale. Seek respite through someone else other than your sibling.
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You might contact the Agency for Aging in your area. There may be some resources-some day care, or respite, of visiting caretaker. I hope so. Your sister is a lost cause, it seems from your description. Shameless, in that case, but unusual. You might ask your sister if she has any suggestions to relieve you. What would she do if you were unable to care for your Mom. You are not a guaranteed resource indefinitely. If there are funds available, respite care in a nursing home is something you could try for a short interval (maybe overnight of some such). Mom might enjoy a change of scene even if she is shy and frail. Good luck.
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