I had no help from my siblings. I took my mom into my house for 6 years without any help from them. I have a mental illness that causes me great difficulty. I told my siblings I could no longer care for her. Now, I'm repaid by not being allowed to see her or talk to her because they are mad that they have to tend to her. I am 50 and my siblings are older. I also took care of my grandma for 2 years before she passed.
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Right now she has bad problems with her feet. We are trying to get a podiatrist to see her. She has very bad calluses on the bottoms of her feet and hammer toes. So walking needs to be limited.
I will inform my bro about the foam matresses. Are they by chance memory foam or egg crate. Egg crate is too soft for her.
Thanks for the info!!!!!!
Take Care
RR
I saw my mom today, Feb. 2, 2013!!!!!!!! Met my bro and followed him to the facility. She didn't recognize me. Didn't know my name at first either. It took her about 5-10 minutes to realize it was really me. She looks so tired but she was so happy it was me that was there. I think I figured why they let me see her. She needs to see a podiatrist and the insurance may not cover it.And to help with other things she may need. My bro made the statement that if they didn't WE may have to come up with it. Another thought is that although she is in a facility, my sis and bro realize how tough it is to care for someone. That's my take I think it's because I usually got what my mom needs. Just like today we were in my mom's room. Her mattress was hard and I know uncomfortable. My mom has bad arthritis in her back and legs. My bro got a hospital bed from the insurance but it was so hard. Her old bed was a Tempurpedic bed that I bought her years ago. Well,I went to WalMart and I bought her a memory foam topper for her bed. I explained what I bought for her bed. She was so excited. I called my bro to tell him what I was doing in getting the topper and he said that my mom never said anything to him about the mattress. THEY don't know her.
Also, I know she had been asking about me. She kept saying she asked them and that she kept praying to God I would come see her. Except she thinks it's been 2 YEARS since we've seen one another. She was scolding me about not seeing her for so long and that I shouldn't have been fighting with my bro and sis. She also told me she thought I was dead. It broke my heart. I didn't say anything because I know what she was told that and she doesn't need to be confused more or told anything different. Let her just think what she was told. She doesn't need to know what truly took place. She's just happy I can see her and I had to promise God that I would be there every week to visit. I told her on Tues., Feb 5th, I will be there with my little dog Tiny. (He was her dog before mine) The facility said as long as I have vaccination papers he can come visit her, too. She was so VERY happy. I told her on Saturday next week and every week after, I will be there to see her at least twice a week if not more. It's 60 miles round trip for me. But oh so VERY worth it. I have since seen her two more times and she knew exactly who I was. I shall cherish EVERY moment I have left with her!!!!!
My sis only goes for 2-3 hours twice a week and my bro 2-3 times a week for short periods of time.
I could care less about them. I'm just thrilled beyond belief that I saw my mom. In the 5 months that I have not seen her, she has had a lot of mental decline. But she remembered that we always held hands and that I took her places! She was talking about it and asked if I could take her out sometime. On Thurs. Feb 7th, my sis and I are taking my mom out to lunch, per my mom's request.
I just want to thank you for ALL your prayers and encouragement.
ALL MY LOVE,
Sue
I guess see the lawyer who is experienced with Elder Law. Very important. Because they can tell you the TRUTH of your chances and not drag you through court, bumbling around and charging you big bucks for their bumbling. I’ve read on this site the importance of this. A divorce lawyer’s specialty is divorce – they know the ins and outs and how the judge would rule – from their experiences. The same applies for elderly. Please find a lawyer who is very familiar with the elderly.
I want to have the right to call and visit my mom. I did not give up the Healthcare POA. I still have the paperwork but I don't know if my bro has changed it.
My father has written me off. I talked to him about 2 weeks ago and talked to him about my bro. All I got from my father was that my mom took care of me. I have a sis and a bro that she took care of too. My family is VERY dysfunctional. My bro raped me when I was a child. It went on for 4 years. My father molested my sis for numerous years. What my bro is doing now with not letting me see my mom has brought up the feelings of powerlessness. I will not choke up anything having to do with either of them, period. My aunt, my mom's sister IS my father's girlfriend. Everything was fine while I did ALL the caring and everything for my mom. But because I stood up for myself my mom and I get punished!
Now, why will you be visiting the lawyer? To regain caregiving for your mother? Or to visit her? If you're going to go back to caregiving, are you able to handle the stress of it? Your brother will bring up that you gave it up because you can no longer do so.
With all this going on, I sure hope you did NOT give up your medical POA. Because the hospital, clinic will need to contact you for any major medical needs. This would be a good time to visit her - if all else fails (lawyer, etc..) But if you gave that up....
Can you talk to your father? Your brother lives separately. Call your father and make peace with HIM. When your father gets to know you better, then he might - out of the goodness of his heart or conscience or because he now likes you - will call you that your mom is visiting him for the night.
All I'm saying is...I have always been neutral in my family. I have 7 siblings and there is always rivalries, competitions, jealousies, etc....By being neutral, and not taking sides (despite that sis or bro did something really bad), everyone likes me because I'm neutral and Fair.
I think, this will be a good time for you to learn to be positive and display this positive attitude to your family as in your father, your aunt, your father's girlfriends (even if it chokes you inside). You need someone from the other side to come to know you and like you and will EVENTUALLY being able to assist you in your quest to see your mom. I hope you succeed in seeing your mother! HUGS to you!!
My not being allowed to talk or see my mom is a punishment my bro has bestowed on me because I am not doing what he wants me to do. He told me to watch her when my mom's boyfriend was in the hospital. After 15 days of being there with a couple of days of my bro coming over so I could eat and sleep at my home my anxiety and PTSD went straight through the roof. I went to the ER on one of the days my bro came over thinking I was having a heart attack. It was just a severe anxiety/panic attack. I had medical POA with him as secondary, I was her Rep. Payee. I called her every other day and visited once a week to every other week. He demanded I write a letter to SSA saying I no longer wanted to be her payee. I called SSA and they said there's no such thing that they ask for. If my bro wants to become the payee then he needs to apply for it just like I did. This all set him off because he had to do, from scratch, what I went through.
Have you asked them their reasons for denying you access to your Mom? Have you asked them how they see this as being fair to you, who gave up so much for so long for your Mother? Why is your health of such little consequence to them?
That's where I would start. These questions should make them feel very small and petty and unfair to you. If not, chalk it up to them feeling like they are more worthy of unencumbered lives than you.
I hope this problem clears up for you. It's heartbreaking to feel unloved by your closest family members.
I have come to the conclusion they are jealous and guilty that they did not step up to help in anyway during the past 2 years. Striking out at me and my family seems to make them feel superior. Mother will in no way be in the kind of home we have, receive the constant care or excellent food. We have done all we can at this point and will just see how they react once the move happens.
Good luck and God bless!