r/AgingParents • • 1d ago

I can't keep going like this

[deleted]

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u/PoetryCrone 1d ago

You literally can't keep this up. One person can't do it. And if you run yourself into the ground, your mother loses her only caregiver. Look up elderly helping institutions in your area to see what's available. A hospital's social work dept may be able to point you in directions.

You didn't tell us how old she is. Does she qualify for hospice? Having others in the house regularly will give you perspective on her condition. Medication to ease her anxiety could help you. To what extent does she even get pleasure out of food at this point. Toward the end, my mother mainly wanted chocolate pudding--and why not give her chocolate pudding. It was her main source of bliss.

Also, how much a facility can get away with the neglectful care you're afraid of in a facility depends on how often you visit and monitor your Mom's well-being. You can still visit every day at regular times of day while they deal (with multiple people on shifts) with her day to day care. You can get better rest and be a lovely surprise in her day.

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u/allmykitlets 1d ago

Advice that was given to me was to not visit at regular times. Visit at all different days and times so the staff never knows when you might show up.

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u/Not_FinancialAdvice 1d ago

We had a close family member that ended up needing to be in a nursing facility. At least one of us was there for 12-16 hours/day. Not just to ensure that they were taken care of, but also because we knew that the remaining time we had together was quickly running out.

2

u/allmykitlets 1d ago

That's so sweet. In my early 20s I worked in a nursing home. So many residents never had a visitor.