Caring for both parents and blind brother! Advice needed!

“They don’t really want help other than me and refuse assisted living!”

Yeah, well, we don’t all get what we want for Christmas, do we? My own mom has a saying: God doesn’t give you what you want. God gives you what you NEED.

And what do they really need? Your brother needs a housekeeper. Your parents need assisted living. If you cave and cave, and give, and give, one day you’ll wake up and wonder where your life has gone.

I wouldn’t wish that on anybody.

I think you should pretend you’re reading your own post, but that it’s written by someone else. What advice would you give? Would you tell them to stay and grin and bear it because it’s a daughter’s duty? I sure as hell hope not. Be strong and brave and take your own advice and then maybe you’ll sleep again at night.

Does your brother have any other health issues? Blind people live independently all over the world.

Regardless, move back home and retake your life. There are plenty of options for your parents to get assistance that don't involve you destroying your own life.

Lynn, welcome! Lots of us have been through the "trying to save out parents at any cost" stage.

Please listen to the great advice you've been given.

“Should the cabin lose pressure, oxygen masks will drop from the overhead area. Please place the mask over your own mouth and nose before assisting others.”

"I would never abandon my parents"

Warning ⚠️ Hard questions coming your way;

Yet you have abandoned your own life.. why?

Does your parents & brother's lives matter more than yours?

Do they have alternatives for care?

What if you didn't exist? What would they do?

Is the only way to show that you love them to provide hands-on care?

Could you still love them & not be the hands-on help?

And finally, can you fix their physical ailments & aging?

Is this actually about your parents & brother accepting their reality & making changes to their lives?

By you stepping in the be a buffer, will this delay their adjustment?

Sorry if you find me way too harsh today 😔. I honestly wish someone had asked me those questions many years back.. but I lived & learned. From a reformed *must help & fixer* now *Advocate* 🤗

Why should they go into assisted living when they are already in assisted living in their home with you doing everything?

You are only 58 and have given up your home, your relationship with your boyfriend, your son, your job, an income. Basically everything you love to take care of your dad, mom and brother.

What have they given up for you?

Do you see the disconnect between what you are doing to make them happy and what they are doing to make you happy?

Are you willing to do this for 5,10,20 years or more? Eventually their care will make it so they will all have to go into care eventually. All you are doing is delaying the inevitable and losing everything in the meantime.

There is nothing wrong with assisted living. If they require assdistance to live day to day then they need to go into assisted living so you can get your life back. Good luck.

Doing all the caregiving for 3 people will invariably exhaust you and cause burnout. You’ll sacrifice your own health and well being in the process. You say you’re the only one able, but that’s not true. There is other help available but you’ve trapped yourself into believing you’re required to do it all. I’d encourage you to change the dynamic, look into options to give yourself rest and breaks. This isn’t abandonment. And of course they don’t want other help, they won’t as long as you’re doing it all. Please protect your health and future, you only have it once