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Mom has alzheimers early stage(?). My Dad passed 7 years ago - since then I have cared for her every need above and beyond. I love her. She has always worried and it is constant now. financially she is set, lives in her own house 2 min from me - I made all this happen.all remodeled and paid for. She recently found that my husband and I have a small loan on my house, her name is still on the deed as well as my Dads-she refused several times to change this-I could not budge her. so we did it w/out her knowledge. Mind you she is financially secure, I care for her and we take care of all bills on my house. She has gone absolutely over the top about this- We are in process of changing the deed now-she finally agreed. she will not speak to me- allows me to take her to the store but ignores me- the hateful accusing things she is saying are killing me. i cry most days. she will not go to talk w/ anyone about this and try to resolve it between us. I am an only child- there is no one else-just me and my husband. she is being so hateful and now wants to revoke the POA- she needs me to do this as she can not handle anything but what will happen when I need this to care for her more? Which will likely be sooner than later she is 77. If I deny her and do not take her to do this she will become more enraged. Advice?

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I'd suggest that you consult with the attorney who prepared the POA and let him/her in on what's going on. If she is no longer considered to be "competent" by the legal definition, then she can't revoke the POA. In any event, I'm sure the attorney will agree that it is a bad idea for her to do so, at least without naming someone else to serve in that role. If the lawyer is a trusted advisor, perhaps your Mom will accept his/her input on this matter and will back down.

-- Sheri
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Scary as it all is, it looks like a competency issue. It's true that at this point she is vulnerable to giving POA to anyone she wants, especially is she sees an attorney who isn't too careful.

I do hope you can get third party help to get this done before she implodes. It's taking too large a toll on you and you can't keep it up. She will need more care not less.

She's so frightened and your heart breaks over this, but just think what could happen if she revokes the POA and gives it to some stranger. If nothing else, compromise with her and have the POA turned over to a legal person or trust officer. But, hopefully, you can retain it. Even in the hands of an attorney, you'd need to be very careful about who that person is. Some attorneys are shady, too, so check the person through the state bar association.
Carol
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foxyscharm,

Your mom definitely needs some kind of medicine for she is loosing touch with reality. Has she been evaluated for incompetency?

I think one thing we must all, including myself, constantly realize that we cannot be responsible for someone's emotions. We can make sure they are safe and cared for, but we can't fix their sick minds, cure their paranoia, control their fearful acts of intimidation which brings us back around to our previous discussion about F.O.G. and Intimidation.

These are difficult times of role reversals for both us adult children and our elderly parents. We can let them drive us crazy, wreck our heath, permanently damage or destroy our marriage or all sorts of other collateral fallout. Or, like parents with a child, we do what we think is best for our aging parent even if they don't like it and complain and we try out best to find out what the best thing to do is. One person has already died for the entire world and he does not call us to crucify ourselves
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Okay then since she can no longer think logically, then maybe you should stop trying to explain it to her. I know from experience that trying to explain something to someone with dementia is like banging your head against the wall. So you're gonna have to let that part go. Personally, I would put her in asst. living/foster care home/nursing home whatever, and go with your husband like you used to do. Sell whatever you have to and get on with your life. Hard truth, she is probably never going to change her mind about you, so move on. As long as she's being taken care of (by someone else) I don't see the problem with thinking of you and yours for awhile. And I wouldn't feel guilty either. But you know what they say about guilt? "It's the gift that keeps on giving..." :) You can do this, I know you can. Nancy
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Karenia,

From what you have shared on this thread, another thread and your profile, it sounds to me like your mother has had some mental/emotional issues for years that your dad tried to handle on his own while raising you and doing everything else for the family.

IMHO She's not afraid of you. She's afraid of loosing control of you and you can help her without allowing her to control you. Your health has already been damaged from your dad's decline and moving your mother from Florida. Please, don't let this situation consume the rest of your health at your age.
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Karenia, I agree with Crowmagnum. Your mom wants to have control over you. If you're apologizing daily, she KNOWS she has control. If you and your mother have always had a good, loving relationship (b4 alz) then I don't think she hates you no matter how ugly her comments are.
I also think naheaton is right on. Don't let what you can't change jeopardize your marriage. My husband was a nervous wreck seeing me cry and rant and rave over my mom. I finally came to my senses and stopped because he means more to me than my hateful mother(who doesn't have alz, she's just hateful!).
My heart goes out to you. You are hurting a lot. And this is hurting your health. I really think you need to get on a different path. Think of yourself and your husband. All you owe your mom is seeing that she's well taken care of. I wish you all the best luck.
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karenia,

You are definitely at your wits ends and I can see why. That elder care counselor is a burned out, hardened ___ and should get out of that line of work. My SIL ran into the same kind of "stupid" therapist in dealing with her narcissistic/borderline mother. Try to find yourself a therapist for you.

I don't know your mother's history. So, I can't really tell if she is mentally ill or not, but at this point her diagnosis is not as important as getting her the help she needs and getting you the help you need.

Did your dad and you have to endure the same kind of mood swings that you are dealing with now in your mother?

I'll be praying for you.
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I vote for you taking a mini-vacation and getting away somewhere for a few days. Leave her alone. Make sure she won't starve, then get the heck out of town for a few days. Let her 'stew in her own juices' as they used to say. She probably won't die, right?
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My mother-in-law has been saying for the last 4 months that the glasses she's wearing on her face are NOT hers. I, personally have taken her to 3 optometrists/ophthalmologists and they are all saying the same thing. Yes those are your glasses. The last time she got taken to yet another eye person, she was dumbfounded that the glasses ARE really hers, and just couldn't get over it. She absolutely agreed that they were right and she is wrong. We all breathe a sigh of relief, FINALLY!! But one hour later I call her to she what she's doing. "That doctor is full of it, she didn't know anything, and these are NOT my glasses". My point is, with dementia there is no logic anymore. Your mother was being nice to the attorney, acting like she gets' 'it' but in her mind he is still wrong, you are wrong, every one in the world is wrong except her. I personally have stopped arguing with m-i-l cause it's useless. Now I just tell her when she starts complaining about those darn glasses, 'well you'll have to take it up with Kaiser, cause they say that those are your glasses'. And I shrug my shoulders, because there is nothing I can say or do to convince her of anything else. And changing the subject won't work, because of all the things she has forgotten with dementia, the glasses thing is NOT one of them. At some point I think you are going to have to give up the fight of trying to make her like you or trying to explain anything to her, and just let her be. I think when you took off for that week and left her alone, she treated you better when you did reconnect right? Then that ought to be your method of operation from now on. When she starts making you go crazy, step back, leave her alone and then reconnect again later. Maybe she'll connect the dots and see that when she acts mean and spiteful, you back off. Who knows? This other scenario sure isn't working for you.
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Ahhh- here I am again seeking some support - this has been for me the best place for support, understanding and good advice.
Foxyscharm ( previous comment_ you really need to get some help with that situation, I am not a professional but see that is a horrible situation- do not give up.. call social services, senior legal help or whomever you need to.
So today Mom and I went to meet with an attorney whom has done real estate closings ect in the past for my family - so she "trusts" him though til today she had never spoken to or met him... The 1 hr drive up was not so pleasant, she will have not really have conversation with me,answers my attempts with the shortest possible answer. As I had given the attny all the pertinent info and told him about her alz. and my concerns, he was aware. He was great- spoke directly to mom, listened to her questions, caught on that she was not understanding and tried to simplify things so she would understand, but at the same time looked directly at me and let me know when something was crucial for me. She was a different person!!! listened, laughed at some small jokes, and when she did not grasp something looked to me to explain or ask him the question she was trying to ask and on several occasions told the attny"she is better at this sort of thing than I am". I thought it went very well-her fears put at rest and we knew exactly what needed to be done, what I had told her had been verified by the expert. All Good right? NO. As we got into the car I stated - I feel better and now we know just what to do and no worries- no response- she would not go to lunch or stop at any of her favorite spots. would not talk for the hour ride home -just short answers. got to her house went in and she dismissed me. i asked her to go to church sunday- she said no and got very angry-said she does not pray anymore. said I have caused something to die inside her, and it went on- I tried to reason w/ her told her I love her and miss her and have done all I can ect- she said I had done things for her and taken care of her like no one ever had- but it was gone now. I tild her how much i also am hurting and how can we get past this- she said she can not. so... is this just meanness or is this typical alz??? I was doing well but feel crushed again.
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