caring for a mom. have been for 5 years now since father passed. she has melanoma and possible other, but her decision is no more tests. ( 87, 3rd time cancer). BFF just finished with a full year of treatments. stem cell replacement. she has been deemed clean right now. have older siblings. 3hours and 1 1/2 hours away. I am youngest and single. parents were each others best friends. did not have many outside. mom starting leaning on me. I was ok with it when she was much more mobile. but now it is wearing me out. I get angry at how I feel. I know I shouldn't. work has FMLA but I do not have the financial means to take any time off. everyone needs from me. work, home, friend. I am trying to get all my bills paid off. so I have very little money left for "fun" I am trying to take a children lit class via mail. but that is getting "chorefull." am I crazy? is it too much to ask to want someone to care for me? to send me a card or flowers or take me out to lunch? all my friends at work have left for other jobs. getting together has become more difficult. is it separation anxiety?
You need to talk to you family. Tell them to pick a week they will be able to take THEIR Mother and keep her so you can have some rest. If they hedge--pick a week and tell them what time you will arrive with her. If they don't respond then just show up with her. One of my siblings flew 2000 miles at their own expense to stay with Mom so I could get away. If you don't have a car that will make the trip, rent one. You can make either place in a days drive.
Have you checked about a Senior Day Care near you?
Hang in there. There are a lot of us out here in almost unbearable situations.
NICELY ask siblings for help - time or money. If they say I can't, then ask what they could do - even once a year.
I have felt like I have had to put my life on hold to care for my parent, which means no income while other siblings are still working. This hurts your self esteem and it will also affect you down the road where social security is involved as you will have missed out on years of work and paid nothing into the system. So keeping your job is probably a good thing. You might want to check into churches or other organization within your area for support. We discussed in another post trying to date during this time and it is honestly almost impossible.
I can honestly tell you that you are not wrong or a terrible daughter to feel the way you do, we all have at one point or another!
God Bless you on your journey!
YES, you need time for YOU and this is NOTHING to feel guilty about!!!
From doing it alone for 2+ years, would like to share experience to hopefully help you:
- If assistance is offered from neighbors, friends, family, or elderly organizations, please utilize it even if it is only for a few hours.
- If no assistance offered, seek it out and don't be shy for example to ask friendly neighbor to help check on your mom, when you have a chance to meet up with friends.
- Approach your siblings for help despite the distance, even if they are able to help only once a year it's better than nothing.
- So many have said that you MUST take care of YOU, otherwise how can you care for another? They are 100% correct!
- Whenever frustration boils over, have to keep reminding myself I chose NOT to turn my back when a elderly parent needed help because of their love/care provided to me. Never mind Alzheimer's has resulted in causing them to be almost a difficult stranger.
- Loneliness is a sad reality for caregivers (have been away from spouse for 2+ years and lucky not divorced), and you have to do what you can to balance your own well being (proverbial "easier said than done") with caregiving.
- Use these forums as there so many nice people willing to answer your questions and provide you with moral support.
Please take care of you! Wishing you slad1956 and all you caregivers good health.
Meanwhile, if your father has been diagnosed as mentally ill, that has it's own set of family rules. No one is going to yell at you here for what you said. Please don't put your children at risk by having him around. You are trying to establish
" normal." Go for it!
She wants you to be happy and progressing, not being miserable and stuck.
Have a heart to heart with her. Forget about the siblings. However, if she is at the place where she is only thinking of herself and will not consider your needs, then just do what you need to for yourself because maybe she is in reverse focus. Back to the belly button. That 's life. Take care of yourself:) xo
I learned the hard way, with angry and difficult behaviors from siblings added to the pain. In stepping back and doing some "me" time like spending time with all of you sometimes, I'm better in handling their "issues".