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HOUSEhold6 Asked June 2013

Please help! My dad's not getting the best care he can could, but they have threatened to hurt me if I come back?

Most are aware of my situation. My brother assaulted me and I called the Police and locked myself in my car. My brother called my Uncle, POA and the police left laughing. My Uncle actually went and had a talk with the Chief of Police, so my brother is getting away with this and all these "Professional", use that term lightly...adults are basing opinions of me on "what someone said about me".

My Father has Dementia, kidney failure, Congestive heart failure and his care taker and I spoke today about them eating out at bob Evans, and other cafeterias. He is not suppose to be eating this food!
I really feel because lots of money is involved that the family is trying to hasten is death! They are doing the opposite of what the Dr's said to do!
APS, said you can not force him to eat right.... They did in the hospital and in AL for 2 months? What can I do??

HOUSEhold6 Jul 2013
I think what will be really hard for me to get over, is the fact that my dad did not get to see my kids.
I was there when he was sick but rushed away when he was getting better. All I can do, is hang on to those memories that I have with him, they are all very nice.

butterflygrl Jul 2013
I am so sorry for your loss. I will never understand the nasty dynamics that can go on with trying to control a parent or loved one at the time of their passing. Some families do well, others just slash and burn each other, grub and grab for each dollar and manipulate a needy person. To me, it's one of the lowest forms of human behavior and it is heartbreaking. condolences.

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vstefans Jul 2013
Condolences on the loss of your Dad...we could all see how much you cared and wanted things to be different, and how much your dad and maybe the rest iof the family just wanted everything to be OK while he did what he had always done. I hope any good memories you have can come back to you and comfort you now; I know all too well the mix of emotions with this kind of difficult loss...the sorrow, the anger that the person could not have done better care and made better choices and still be with you/be there for you, maybe even the relief that suffering is over and could have been worse....just everything. Hugs...

pamstegma Jul 2013
You did what you could, god bless you and take comfort in knowing you were faithful to the end.

HOUSEhold6 Jul 2013
Dad passed on July 2. He was in the hospital 10 days with pneumonia and then his Kidneys shut down.... All because he was out there eating food that he was not suppose to have. He has congestive heart failure and was taking his weight; but when he gained, he never called the Dr. He only went to ER when he could not breathe.

HOUSEhold6 Jul 2013
Pstiegman, I wish... I was not my fathers care giver this last time, by taking the time to read through the comments or heck the title/question you would have known that.

HOUSEhold6 Jun 2013
I have no reason to make peace with my dad, no love lost there. As I have said before..I love him very much!

pamstegma Jun 2013
You are all suffering from caregiver burnout, and the end is very near if he has dialysis and a feeding tube. Go, make peace with your father and ignore the rest.

HOUSEhold6 Jun 2013
I understand that my father has many ..many chronic health conditions. I also know that my father would rather spend his last days at home. From his last release at rehab, it has been about a month and a half. With heart failure, you have to be on a somewhat strict diet. Bob Evans and MCL every day is something that will put you back in the hospital quickly...dads body can not handle the salt and the fluid retention therefore it causes the pneumonia. I know my father will not last long, but they need to try and keep him at home, where he wants to be..

HOUSEhold6 Jun 2013
Dad is in the hospital again. UTI and Pneumonia..they have given him a feeding tube and put him on Dialysis. ( this could of been prevented if he was eating correctly). They may have to put him on a vent because the pneumonia in not getting any better. Crazy, now my brother wants me home. Still will not go alone, too much has happened.
I only get to see him when he is sick, not when he is doing well. At this point I will take what I can get!

PaulaK Jun 2013
I, too am so sorry to hear this. The situation sounds miserable. Unfortunately, as I have learned the hard way (not related to caregiving troubles), there are many terrible situations that cannot be resolved without spending a lot of money and time (assuming you can even find a competent lawyer interested in taking your money and, hopefully, actually producing results in exchange!) ... and even more unfortunately, even spending the money and time is no guarantee that things will work out the way they should. :-( I will continue to hope that something happens at least to reduce family tensions to a point where you're able to spend time with your Dad again ....that separation is clearly the worst aspect of this very sad situation.

vstefans Jun 2013
Sorry to hear it turned out this way. But thank you for updating and if anything changes, especially anything for the better, we would love to hear it too. I will hope and pray there will be some way for you to be part of your father's life again.

HOUSEhold6 Jun 2013
Well, I have an update and it is not very good. I was given the name of an attorney by my fil who is a Federal Judge. I called and they do not want to mess wit it unless I seek guardianship. I would love to seek guardianship but I know my father does not want to be in FL. He want to be in his home in IN. So this attorney gave me another attorneys name and I called them.. Even though my father is asking to see me and the POA has broken the law by locking me out of dads home when I had permission to be there and my personal belongings were inside...NOBODY WANTS TO HELP ME!! THEY DO NOT SEE DOLLAR SIGNS WHEN THEY LOOK AT ME, THEY SEE WORK, AND I GUESS THEY ARE NOT WANTING TO WORK WHEN THERE IS NOT A SETTLEMENT AT STAKE. SO, I will continue to mourn for my father.....even though he is alive. I guess this is my only way of dealing with it. Thanks to those for the "kind" comments.

HOUSEhold6 Jun 2013
That is just it, the POA will hang up on me. I get very little info from Dads caretaker and from FaceBook. The POA has not contacted me at all. When dad was released from rehab...I found out by calling his room and an elder lady answered, said there were no men there.
I am to the point where if I want dad in my life...I have to fight for it...and fight I will. I am hurt to the core...but this is just wrong. They are hurting my dad too. Enough!

vstefans Jun 2013
I would certainly think you deserve to be in your fathers life, to know when he is sick and in the hospital and to be able to visit him without fear...it does not seem too much to ask! People may be legally stuck with all communication going through the current POA, but if you can get that changed, more power to you. Please continue to let us know what happens...hugs...

Jinx4740 Jun 2013
Glad to hear that things look more hopeful.

HOUSEhold6 Jun 2013
Oh, my cousin still is a member of the Church where the gift is to be made to. I have contacted her. So all in all, the Church does know about the gift.

HOUSEhold6 Jun 2013
I know that something can be done. The Chief talking to my uncle/POA and then not talking to me...is unprofessional at best. I know from my experience with the Police Dept., (in a different state) the Atty General's Office will conduct investigations on a Police Department, if evidence is shown to back up the allegations. I have the text messages that I received threatening my life, if I were ever to come back to IN. An Officer friend of mine looked over these and stated my brother could be charged with a Felony.
I have tried to find an attorney before, but I guess the whole out of state issue has scared them off.
Praise God!! I found a wonderful Attorney! I even checked them out with my Father in Law, who was a Judge in IN for years. He spoke VERY HIGHLY of this firm and this Attorney!
I want nothing more than to be in my fathers life, to know when he is sick and in the hospital and to be able to visit him without fearing for my life. Simple... I LOVE HIM SO!

vstefans Jun 2013
Sorry to hear you are getting such shabby treatment. I guess the guys have decided to cut you out of the loop. If there is not enough evidence for the police, adult protective services, or anyone else to have your uncle removed as POA though, you have done all you legally can...and at least one person on here (me) thinks you have a right to feel OK about not banging your head on that particular wall any more. Lord knows you had enough heartache for a lifetime, losing your mom to ALS!! I have found that prayers do get answered, even for the things I am not bold enough pray for in words, for the things that really do need to happen...

And hey - at least they took him to the hospital when he needed it, and get him out of the house for some outings. They could be doing him a lot worse, from some of the stories I've read on here...

HOUSEhold6 Jun 2013
Dad did not pick me because I am a military spouse. While I take time out and visit him..I still live in FL and he in IN. My uncle has POA because my fathers first choice, another brother also has Dementia. My uncle, the POA, literally had it fall in his lap.

The Church knows nothing of the gift.., it is in OH, dad moved back after Mom passed from Lou Gehrigs in 2001. My Mother stopped going to dad's family functions because they are very mean people! All I can do is PRAY and hope things go the way they are suppose to..

As for the crying.. I found out my father was back in the hospital at 11:30 last evening.. All I have been doing is crying since then. My family did not tell me, I saw it on a friends post on FB..

vstefans Jun 2013
Some times we are all a little fragile, and just sugesting that we are bad or ignoring you for not having an answer to a question right away gets peole edgy. You posted "Wow, thanks so much for the input... I will go back to my crying" and
that's what people thought you meant. But you have got to be feeling that way yourself.

I would put the unhealthy food thing in perspective, but the threatening and the chance of inappropriate financial management is more serious and my heart goes out to you that you cannot get help with that. Is there anyone from the church with connections that could help (they would at least have an interest, since it is their potential "gift" being squandered?) It almost sounds like your uncle, your brother, and you dad are turning the whole thing into a stag party...of course, Dad picked the uncle to be POA, at least he knew not to make it your brother, and maybe not you because he knew brother would threaten?? Maybe, maybe not, but all of us may have to live with consequences of not picking the right POA. I had just posted my own question about that even before reading this post of yours...

HOUSEhold6 Jun 2013
I called the Atty General, they said they could not do anything, and I called and talked to the Mayor. The Mayor was resistant and continued to direct me to the Chief. I worked for a Police Department for almost 4 years as Grants Manager and Accreditation Manager. I am going to send the text messages I have to the Police Dept. the text messages are from my brothers Boss telling me the day I was assaulted that my brother has told him on several occasions that he will hurt me next time he see's me. My brothers boss begs me not to say anything because he is also scared of my brother!

HOUSEhold6 Jun 2013
BoniChak, I am not taking frustration out on anyone.. I do not think it is appropriate to take stabs at me and my post....when you have no idea how incredibly hurt I am.... I did not come on here to be poked and have rude comments thrown at.

NancyH Jun 2013
household6, did you ever talk to the District Attorney about the things your brother did to you? I'm thinking that if you can get formal charges against your brother at least taken seriously, then maybe his POA can be revoked. What it sounds like is that your dad needs a court appointed person to take over his finances all together. Get the family out of the way by a disinterested third party. If I were you, that's the route I'd take to de-throne your brother. Forget the police, ask the District Attorney first hand. Good luck.

BoniChak Jun 2013
Um....who shot 1st? Just saying.
If you need help or to vent we are here for you....but don't take your anger towards your brother out on us.

HOUSEhold6 Jun 2013
Jinx, if you are here to take shots at me.....find someone else.

HOUSEhold6 Jun 2013
My father was put in the hospital last September for his first UTI. I stayed with dad for about 3 months and it was good until Dad found out my brother stole his will and found out his net worth. That is when it all changed between my brother and I, he would get in my face, hit me in the chest with his pointer finger, yell and scream at me and call me crazy..when I would cry. Dad had him as POA since I am a military spouse and have not lived there for many years.
My dad put his brother, my uncle as POA, someone who lived 15 minutes from Dad but HAD NEVER BEEN TO VISIT DAD SINCE HE HAD MOVED INTO HIS PLACE 9 YEARS AGO!
My Uncle and my brother became very close NAND when Dad was hospitalized I stayed the night with him every night, Dad liked to get out of his bed and I wanted to be there so he wouldn't hurt himself. My brother and I went to day's house to get some of his belongings because he was getting released from the hospital and going to rehab. My brother pushed me, hit me, chased me around. I called the Police..it was a joke. All of this is happening because my father is donating a very large sum of money to the church! Unfortunately, my brother who, with his family...lived with my parents, had my parents purchase a house for his family, cars..pool tables , you name it believes that he is entitled to the money that Dad wants to go to the Church!. The POA has made comment that he believes it should go to the children too. After I called the police on my brother, the POA told me I was not allowed to see my dad any more. Locked me out of dads condo, with my belongings inside.....so I left IN and went home to FL. My dad has mentioned several times that he knows my brother is trying to kill him...for money!
If I call, they hang up on me, so I decided...I just couldn't do it anymore. I would give up my relationship..and hope he would call.

I gave and gave and let them walk all over me. My brother was smoking in dads car and I mentioned that he did not need to do that around dad, My uncle said "he is already sick, it's not going to kill him". I just had to walk away...... My Uncle has listened to all the lies my brother has said and didn't even give ME a chance. That is sad! I have spent the last 17 years volunteering and helping people my brother has been in and out of jail... Grow up and get to know me for me!!
Don't take my father AWAY

Jinx4740 Jun 2013
Household6 -

Was that last one a shot at us for not answering sooner?

I'm sorry for your troubles. I have a friend who was railroaded by the cops who were buddies with her father - dragged her out of her house in a slip!

Can you get any support from friends or neighbors or other relatives who see that they are not taking proper care of him? Has he been declared incompetent? It would have to be more than just taking him out to eat junk food. Do they take him to the doctor regularly?

Unless he has been declared incompetent, there probably isn't much you can do. A lawyer would be the only one who could help you to find out if there is anything you can do. He would know whether you can get rights to visit him. I understand how distressing this must be for you, and hope things can work out.

BoniChak Jun 2013
P.S. House. Not many are here during the day....I don't think you were being ignored.....try not to feel hurt at the lack of immediate response. I think you are feeling extra sensitive, with good reason due to the way your family is treating you....But what I have learned is ...there is ALWAYS support here....even if it takes a little while. Relax, deep breaths.......HUG!

BoniChak Jun 2013
Excellent post Paula. I have been racking my brain trying to find something of help to say to her.
All I can offer you House is an ear to vent too. Can I ask...when and why did you stop being the caregiver? I wish you lived on Long Island...my brother is a very prominent lawyer here, and has an elder attorney on his staff.

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