Do you ever wonder if you can “find” your way back after caring for a live in family member? I am seriously concerned the damage can’t be undone. In my case its my FIL. I’ll spare the details of all of the reasons I do not have any respect for him, but can tell you that it has a major impact on our relationship. Yes, I have talked to hubs about how I feel many many times.... we finally hired an in home service to come out once a week to get him to bathe and change clothes, this was the first week..... after she left I was so disappointed, when I had been very clear about the need for thorough bathroom cleaning. She did everything else wonderful and took the trash in the bathroom out. I looked in there this morning and see that she only swiped around the inside of the bowl, leaving the sides and around the floor a mess. Maybe I’m too picky but when you clean a toilet it is too to bottom inside and out.... I was wondering why the bathroom still smelled so bad. After I checked out the toilet itself, I had the awesome discovery of finding FILs underwear in the trash full of poop. I am so disgusted and worn out. The “benchmark” for removing him from our home (according to my husband) is when he cannot toilet and or needs to be hand fed. This has so sucked the joy out of my life that I worry things may never be the same between me and my husband. I know we will not just “spring right back”, and hell for that matter, we may go first! I am beyond depressed and feel hopeless....so sad.
Fil's bathroom is now DHs job. Hiring help, supervising help and cleaning up surprises.
First off, as you know, the mental and physical and sometimes financial effects of caring for your senior parent, especially if they are difficult (ours wasn't too too bad), however he did have NPD, which became more apparent as the years went on, but I will say that the lack of intimacy definitely took its toll, as just the fact that we knew he was "in the next room" kinda, well Definitely did put a damper on what was previously a healthy sex life, and remember, like most of us sandwich generation, we had only just launched our youngest of 4 kids out into the adult world, so what should have been the best years of our lives enjoying ourselves traveling and not having to answer to anybody else's problems, was now restricted by having a parent to worry about, even if only it was about serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, and then as the years passed by, we were essentially shackled to the home, not able to leave him more than an hour or 2, or struggling to take him with us (which he never wanted to do) and then as his illness progressed, Never being able to leave him at all. You just never know what the future holds in caregiving!
Then once he did pass, just the sheer exhaustion, the situational depression and grieving process took more time than you could imagine. It was then that we were up against the decision to stay in our home with the constant memories of those difficult days and his death having occurred there, or sell our home, to downsize, thinking about our own future and that of our kids who are now busy adulting and having their own children, as we definitely don't want to be a burden to them, as we had had it, that is for sure!
So we sold our home, bought a Manufactured home in a 55 and over community, and we Love it! It's only been 3 months we moved in, but our kids all think it was a good decision, we are very comfortable and still, it's only been almost 2 years since losing our last remaining parent and we are still "recovering".
It takes a long time to get over losing a parent, and whether or not you can Ever get back to your previous life, hmmm, my guess is Not, but you can find your "New Normal", and redefine what you wish your life to be going forward.
Unfortunately, what you cannot get back is time. The time I especially miss is the time that missed seeing my Grandchildren as much as I would have liked, as it was especially hard taking my FIL to places like their baseball games and school activities, so we would often split up, not being able to enjoy those activities together, it was hard enough taking him to the occasional holiday evening, but those are the things that we give up as Caregivers.
No matter how your Caregiving days come to an end, you do the best that you can, and that's all we can do, but I highly recommend that you do not wait until things get too difficult, and they impact your life YOUR RELATIONSHIP beyond repair.
Sometimes you must take matters into your own hands and make changes so that the difficulties of Caregiving don't ruin your life beyond repair, whether that is getting your parent into an Assisted living situation or Nursing home, get your parent into Adult Day Care or get help into your home to make your life easier, do not wait until a crisis! I reccomend you do your homework Now, and have a sit down chat with your spouse and your elder, and be very Frank about your own needs for the betterment of your family life, even if that means that they won't be happy about it, as your life and that of your families must come first! You Matter!
Wishing you and hubs a long happy life, enjoying your children and grands, in your new home!
Once your FIL leaves, be prepared for a honeymoon followed by a downtime. I was so ecstatically happy when my father was officially out of my house. I slept well, enjoyed my kids, felt so free. That lasted about 2 weeks, and then it felt like the world crashed down. Only in the last couple weeks have I gotten back to pre-5 years ago feeling like a good mom, good wife, taking care of business, lower anxiety and depression. Take the time.
Some people can care for a loved one in their home, but not everyone can. As we learn our limits, we do need to set boundaries and do what is most important. Your husband and children should be your priority. Your dad while he may not voice it, should be aware that your family should come first. When you said your vows in your marriage ceremony, you were leaving your parents (to some extent) and joining your life with your husband. He and your children then became your priority. It doesn’t mean you hate or abandon your dad (and you haven’t done that).
Having children with disabilities is also huge. I applaud you for seeing their needs over the needs of your dad (who can be cared for by other loving and caring staff).
Take care of yourself and your family. Visit your dad when you can (include the kids as much as possible, since this is a huge learning and loving experience for them, too). Go on a weekend retreat with the hubby, if able. Maybe get a manicure or massage for yourself. Rest when you can. You're doing a good job!
Blessings to you!
hubby kept just saying I was exaggerating. One day I could find no clean towels. With 3 bathrooms, believe me I had A LOT of towels.
went into his bathroom, the smell just about knocked me over.
i was so mad...went straight into our bedroom where hubby was still in bed and told him that he needed to get up and get that mess in his dads bathroom picked up and cleaned up...because I was exaggerating.
Hubby cleaned it all up and made an appointment that afternoon to move Dad to a NH. dad moved that same week.
Funny how it is no big deal to hubby as long as he doesn’t have to deal with it. For months it was my problem...but the one time he had to deal with it, boy he jumps right up to get Dad moved.
EEEEEwwww... just EEEEEuwwwww!!!! THAT would be it for me, if I had taken anyone in...
(other than finding some solid poops in a plastic bag that previously held multiple pocket tissue packs while looking for her hearing aid, I don't know that mom does this - she went from her condo to MC - I was not up to caring physically or otherwise and brothers wouldn't know what to do! They haven't reported it to me if she has.)
I do not believe I could find an aide to help me with her care if even at any reasonable cost. My life was strained before and needed an aide to stay with her before I could go anywhere. This has lifted and I can see her every other day so I think she knows who I am and am there to hold her hand and talk to her.
I truly was at burnout stage before and now the burnout is clearing her house out on my own knowing she is never coming back and doing so while she is still living.
Hard on the heart, but just have to face reality.
Prayers and strength day by day is what I have.
If you haven't already, read KatieKate's comment - sounds like a similar issue and by putting these tasks on his plate, the transition happened for her!!!
As for the cleaning - I would check back with the service hired. It may be as others suggested that you might need to hire a cleaning aide as well as a bathing aide? We never got that far, only 1 hr/day mainly to check on her and make sure she took her meds from the locked/timed dispenser. I know one aide was always trying to do some cleanup when she was there - sweeping kitchen, bath, cleaning toilet, etc, but not sure about the others, I think they just socialized with mom. I didn't really care at that time, but that only lasted a short while until she refused to let them in. Off to MC then mom!
The first couple days she was gone were strange but I didn’t cook one meal that whole first week! We ate salads and sandwiches and felt like little kids again. It’s not easy but we’re leaving with no guilt and with a free conscience. Those siblings who weren’t there for 13 yrs had to step up as we’re retiring and moving with no forwarding address!!! Don’t harbor any guilt as you have just as much control really as I did which is NONE. Be at peace. I wish you well!
Me, I would have never physically cared for a man. If husband works then an aide is hired during the day out of FiLs money. When DH is home, he is responsible for his Dad. I will cook, clean, wash clothes maybe wait on him. And that depends on how he treats me. If DH is retired, he cares for Dad physically.
Dementia goes hand in hand with Parkinsons or Dad is just lazy. Time for pull ups.
I think to get ur life back after caregiving it may take work. Maybe a date night once or twice a week. Talk about what u want to do now the caring is over.
The general rules of "No good deed goes unpunished" is at play here.
"Good help is hard to find"
"If you want it done right, do it yourself"
It should not be that hard for your help to understand.
I'm not sure if "Hubs" is on the same page as you, but that is a must. Whatever else happens, the two of you need to be in agreement.
Are you sure he's listening. Or is he hearing but not listening.
It does seem that he needs to step up and put some skin in the game.
After all, it is HIS father.
Good luck.
I agree about the help situation, and have taken steps to correct this. I am truly not a tyrant and super picky......as this was part of their care service, I just did not want to have to go behind them. This like a dog chasing its tail.... So tired and really at the point of not giving a __________ anymore.
FIL is still sitting in the same clothes he changed into last Wednesday when they came out. Forced him to get up and take a shower, helped him get fresh t-shirt and shorts on..... and there it is..... it is like pulling your foot out of the mud and watching in fill right back in. Frankly, I am ready to get the Lysol out and just let him be.
As for hubs - I think he is listening, but blocking out truly absorbing what I am saying. It falls on deaf ears when I have repeatedly said I need to have some alone time............ I think he is just trying to stick it out until the "time" comes.
Thanks for the well wishes, and wishing you the best as well!
You are also right that aftershocks are to be expected. Hoping for better days, and wishing the same to you!
It is the hardest thing I ever did, placing my dad and we didn't even have a good relationship, so I can imagine that he is full of turmoil about putting his dad in a facility. However, can you tell him for me, that dad will survive and he might evn thrive, he will be able to be a son again and do enrichment activities with dad. Dad will be fed 3 meals with snacks, he will get his meds, he will have others his own age to socialize with, he will be bathed a couple times a week and he will get clean clothes more then once a week. He is being unfair to his dad that needs a village to care for him, by taking this on his shoulders he is depriving his dad that village.
You guys tried, it's not working and it is insanity to continue doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result.
Your resentment is so loud and clear, it is no wonder you don't know if your marriage will ever be the same. I have to say, most likely not, your husband has shown you that you can be unhappy and miserable and he is okay with it because his boundaries haven't been crossed, that takes something out of a marriage. When you believe you are a team and find out that is conditional it changes things. But, life is always changing, nothing stays the same, will you use this to make things better or worse?
Oh, I think that showering and brushing your teeth, combing your hair, putting on clean clothes, actually hitting the toilet with your waste, that is all part of toileting. It's personal hygiene that makes you a fit companion to be around. What does your husband consider it to be? Sounds like he is a bit vague in his idea. Perhaps clearing that up will help him see that dad has reached and crossed the line.
Best of luck.
I also agree with your point that hubs expects me to just go with it until "his" benchmark is met. There are other factors in play in his decision making that are too long to get into here, but the fact remains, if hubs wants to postpone the inevitable, then he needs to step up to the necessary tasks at hand. and yes, it does take something out of the marriage you thought you had. FOOD is the #1 thing that is ALWAYS addressed - FIL will never be without here at the "Waffle House".... even that makes me mad because cooking is something hubs loves to do - too bad his passion for cleaning is not the same.
The saga continues - but please know that feedback from other folks like yourself in this forum make things a little more bearable in the meantime, and gives us all a safe place to vent, help others and be helped.
Blessings to you!
Thank you again, and many Blessings to you as well!