Mom's in rehab and cries she wants to go home and wants to kill herself. Any advice?

I feel the same way, I hope I don't act like her when my days come. You know growing up she had a lot of hang ups and very much "in the box" regarding different things. I am not going to be like that... and I stuck to it. It's probably very hard being her with being so negative and can't go with the flow. I love her not matter what, and couldn't changer her then, won't be able to change her now. lol

Like everything else, with nursing homes there's the good and the not so good. My mother is in a family owned and operated NH with fantastic staff - some have been there over 30 years. It's small, about 60 residents, and they really do treat everyone like family. With Parkinsons, stroke & dementia, unable to sit up or stand alone, she is safe and well cared for 24/7.

I too was on the other end of daily screaming phone calls for months until it was making me ill and I changed my phone number. I told hr the phone was playing up I got rid of it which she accepted. She's at the stage now where she believes fibs. She's deteriorated drastically in the last couple of weeks and I doubt she has much time left but I visit, ensure she has all she needs and find comfort in knowing she is so well cared for.

Our mother is like that. She always see the glass as half empty also. The threats are a control act with her. She needs to go to assisted living, desperately, but won't. She says if we make her she will kill herself and we will have to live with the guilt. We know she won't - she enjoys being a victim too much and would never kill herself, our fear is that she would play the blame game and crying etc to the hilt and we would pay by listening to her sobs on the phone every day. And after a while it would be an act. For eight years she has been in independent living and we still hear about her wanting her house and car, how she hates it, etc. Except that when she sees one of her friends or an activity come up - she doesn't want us around! Its all an act she reserves for her family only. Oh I pray I will not be like that!

Thanks.. I appreciate your writing. I understand mom is worried she is stuck in a nursing home, not in rehab. We went through all this when she broke her hip back in October, but it took a month before she started acting like this. It's only been a day and half. I hate hearing her get so upset... and I try to console her but she will not listen. I know she is very head strong and used to having things her way and when she wants it, so she can not tolerate that she has no say and the aides won't jump "instantly" when she needs something. She made it sound like her call was about not being able to get out of bed. I told her ask them.. they'll let you sit in a chair. I know she does this on purpose (to a point) to make me feel bad so I'll get her out. I brought her a calendar last time and marked down the days but she'd ask every day, do I go home today. Never paid attention to the calendar. I may print up some big signs and post on the wall that she is in rehab for a short time to help her walk better. Sometimes the signs at home help her not ask the same thing over and over.

Cheryl, I am sorry you are going through that. Your mom is "feeling trapped" thinking she is there forever. Rehab is to get someone stronger so they can come home and avoid another hospitilazion. Hang a calendar mark off each day and tell her she has to do her part so she can come home. You have to set boundaries and tell her you can not be called at work or middle of night and you will not accept the calls if she does so. Don't feel guilty... she is in the hands of the rehab..... try and enjoy this needed break as much as you can.

This morning the nurse put mom on the phone so she could "talk" (NOT) to me. She screamed and cried about killing herself; that I won't take her out of there and I that I don't care, etc. It was very upsetting to deal with, especially at work. I mentioned to my sister last night that mom has a phone in her room and wanted to call out but couldn't get it to work. I asked if I could giver her number to mom so she could call her. I could tell she didn't like that idea as she was very quiet. She then said, well she wants to talk to you, to ask "you" when can she come home. I said you could answer her the same way I do, when you get back on your feet again. She then got upset and said I DON'T WANT HER CALLING ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. She's retired and I still work 40 hours a week. Well when the nurse called this morning, I asked could she please call my sister, I am at work. The phone rang again from the rehab center and I turned it off. I feel horrible not talking with my mom and trying to calm her down, but I feel like I am going to loose it. When she acts like this I don't want to be around her or talk to her. I don't know if there's any way to reason with her.

No I don't think mom would kill herself. Its just a way to get my attention that she is unhappy. Again today at the rehab facility she mentioned she is tired of going through all this. I told her there's not much she can do about as she is both going to die soon and to make the best of her time. Needless to say memo has never been a positive person and always sees the glass half empty. Hard to change her thought process at 92. Lol

pstegman, seriously, I need to copy all your answers and save them for future reference, ha-ha. I hear mom talking to Jesus all the time. I told her the other day she needs to give Jesus a break and just ask me what she's looking (usually it's Jesus, sometimes my dad or her mom).. I think she enjoys tearing up my kitchen and making constant messes since when I come running, she snaps out of it and usually says she's looking for Kleenex. I know she "can't help it." Don't you guys love that phrase?

Go with Psteg's suggestion. Let her go to rehab and reinforce this is drs decision not yours.

While she is in rehab, enlist dr and care teams help in finding options for her. This may be some financial or insurance paid aid to help her manage in her home with assistance so many hours per week. If it looks like she will need more care than she can afford then by all means consider placement as this can be cheaper than 24/7 home care.

I know this must be very hard and you don't want to make her unhappy by placing her...but if it's for her own health and well being then it is necessary. Hopefully drs and care team can help reinforce with her the time has come.

In the meantime can you have private conversations with her care team and see what level of care she will need and long term prognosis? Can you visit a few appropriate NH or AL facilities nearby and learn about their offerings.

I don't think mom will kill herself. You wouldn't be responsible for that decision...that is on her. You cannot take responsibility for your moms happiness. You can only tell her you love her and will help her without sacrificing your life and self for her care.

Once she's through rehab, is there a chance she's a candidate for assisted living, which is more like a hotel than a nursing home? And some nursing homes are very nice - I volunteered in one on Christmas Day. I'd put my mom there without feeling bad about it. Very clean and lots of activities and the staff all knew each patient and their likes and dislikes from what I could see.

I think your mom is just unhappy at being so physically unstable/weak and is taking it out on you, as the nearest and closest person to her. You just have to set some limits around how much you'll put up with, so that you take care of yourself. I'd certainly try some anti-anxiety or anti-depressant meds to see if those helped calm your mom down. Good luck...it's not easy whatever you decide to do.

Good for you; you were strong enough to turn off the phone at night, so you could get some sleep. Now, take the next step and only answer the phone at a predetermined time each day and for a set period of time (Sorry, mom, I've got to go). You know your mom is playing the guilt card on you; it's so hard not to get sucked into that.

I would also suggest that you connect with a nurse or nurse's aide at rehab that you trust. Then, when you have questions or concerns, you can talk with him/her and get a more neutral perspective than what you'll be getting from your mom.

As others have suggested, have your mom evaluated for her anxiety issues.

Now for the hardest part....it's time to start thinking about how long you can realistically take care of your mom at home. While she is in rehab, maybe you should start looking into alternate arrangements, even if it is just "looking." It's always best, in my opinion, to find out all of your options before there is an emergency. Best wishes! Stay strong and know you are not alone.

Shes playing up in the hope that you will go and get her. My mum is never ill or has a hypo when im here???? when im away she has had everything happen to her?? in other words do not leave me or ill get ill?
I think illness or not old people do not want to go into a home and will do anything to stay at home who can blame them but its not always possible to keep them at home and thats hard but its for thier own good.
I wouldnt let her back home shes safer where she is. mum has said she will never go to the NH again EVER there goes my respite!

Mom needs a psychiatric evaluation

Talk to the nurses, I'm willing to bet she saves this behavior only for you. OH nurses see a whole different side of the patient. If they tell you what a good patient she is, you know you have been manipulated. So when angry starts, get up and leave, tell her you aren't buying in to bad behavior.

At home she never talks about killing herself or angry. It's when she gets into rehab she starts behaving badly. I think she thinks I'll will come get her if I worry about her wellbeing so starts with all the crazy talk. I believe she is tired of living and having to go through all this therapy. Still, I feel she needs to get through it so she can come home and be able to at least get to the bathroom on her own.

First we got the MD to give her XANAX once a day. Then twice a day. Then we added in a half a Celexa. We also told her if she wanted to kill herself, to go right ahead, it was her decision. Then she changed that to wanting Jesus to come get her. We told her Jesus comes when HE decides, not when YOU decide, Jesus does not take orders. When she got nasty on the phone, we told her "we'll call you back when you are feeling better." You are wise to turn off your phone at night. If she is on Medicare, they will only give her 20 days in rehab, then try to make you take her home. DON'T DO IT, it will be like suicide. Make it clear to the discharge coordinator there is no one to take care of her at home. Make it clear to the doctor she needs meds.