Hi,
My 97 years old FIL (retired, very fit farmer) has attempted taking his own life x2 this year.
His wife died 8years ago. She was a stay-at-home wife and did everything for him as his mother did.
After his wife died, he remained independent, driving, shopping, visiting friends, friends visiting him, plus family calling. So he has kept busy, but still he says he is lonely. To me, this loneliness is missing his wife as he has plenty to do and other of people he sees.
He has dinners delivered and likes to make his own snacks.
Yet, he is still lonely.
He is very difficult to spend time with as he talks loudly non-stop. If you try to speak to someone in his presence, he gets upset that someone else is talking and not giving him a chance to talk non stop!
You can't watch TV with him as again he talks no stop and puts subtitles on plus what he wants to watch on TV.
If you go upstairs for a break, he complains you are never there for him.
He has tried to kill himself x2 in 6 months as he doesn't want to get to 100. He refuses to go into care and wants to go home soon from the hospital.
I feel he has fooled the psychiatrist into thinking he's happy now and won't try to kill himself again.
When he comes home he will no doubt have his same routine. Bath and whiskey every evening and grandson who calls x2 weekly evenings to just sit and drink with him.
My husband and I had a trip booked for 2 weeks away (before my FIL became ill) and it is paid for.
The bottom line is, I don't think we'll cope mentally looking after him 24/7, even with a break of few hours here and there.
I'm thinking of going on this vacation by myself while my husband stays with his father then we don't lose our money from the holiday, my sanity, or my marriage.
I'm sure my husband's family will see me as selfish but I feel it's just self preservation.
My husband says little, but I know he won't be happy with me leaving him for 2 weeks.
Am I being heartless? Especially as a retired nurse and others expectations of me?
Before you leave let everyone know what you are and are not willing to do to help. Establish firm boundaries, clearly defined now.
Who cares what they think?
Since he's still in the hospital, tell the social worker that he is an unsafe discharge and that he lives alone, and they will have to find the appropriate facility to place him in.
And then you and hubby go on that much needed vacation, and have a great time. Life is too short and there's no reason that you have to put your life and fun on hold for this man.
You are a retired nurse, and fil lives 40 minutes away. What have you and H been doing for him before his hospitalization? Why was he hospitalized? Has H suggested that it's time to move him in with you two?
You've only been married for 5 years. As Barb asked, were there expectations that you would become his caregiver? He was already 92 then, right? Did you agree to this?
Have you (and presumably H) been the only ones who have visited him? What about other family members? Who is his POA/HCPOA?
What is his financial situation?
Do you think H and family are going to try and bully you into having him move in with you as primary caregiver? Are you planning to stand up to them, and insist that you are not the solution?
1. You have a vacation booked and paid for.
2. FIL seems to be in crisis. Has the hospital indicated that he can't be released to go home without full time care?
These two issues are not ENTIRELY unrelated, but...
Your DH says to the hospital "I agree, dad shouldn't live alone. What do you all see as the correct level of care? My wife and I will be out of town for 2 weeks; we should get him set up in a care situation so that there are no emergencies. What do you suggest? We can re-visit when we return if necessary"
Who holds Power of attorney?
That person needs to speak to discharge planning. Tell them "this man lives alone with minimal support. We cannot provide full time care for him. Is this a safe discharge?"
What do YOU think about the "expectations" others have of you?
Did you agree to care for him when you got married?
My father was like your FIL. Talked non stop and wanted to be entertained 24/7. His mother was even worse. And she would stage accidents to get attention. My father fell for her antics all the time but he was sure surprised when I caught on pretty quick when he started doing it.
Get another psychiatrist for a second opinion. Push to have dad admitted to a psychiatric facility. People with mental illness have a cagey way of fooling everyone that they're okay so that they can continue with their plans to kill themselves. I know two people who did this, leaving their survivors to deal with guilt beyond imagining and grief that lasts forever.
There's no way family can deal with this level of illness. He is seriously ill and doesn't belong at home. I hope you and your husband have a wonderful vacation.
How angry will DH be that you went without him and left him in 'crisis' with his 97 year old father who's trying (but not succeeding, conveniently) to kill himself?
Is it worth the fallout for you to leave DH, knowing 'he won't be happy' for 2 weeks?
I think you aren't being 'heartless' here, just sick & tired of this whole charade your FIL is playing. "Trying" to kill himself but somehow winding up at the hospital twice? A person who truly wants to die WILL die, and not wind up at the hospital twice. The man either has dementia going on or is manipulating the two of you to the Nth degree, and your DH is falling for it.
If this were me, I'd look into canceling this vacation and see if you can rebook it at a later date w/o too big a penalty. I always took trip insurance when my folks were alive and had to use it once when dad fell & broke his hip & we had a trip to China & Tibet scheduled. Don't ruin YOUR marriage over one vacation, that's my suggestion. Stay and work this out or try to get DH to see the light and go WITH you on the trip. But he may be feeling to worried and guilty to do that at this point, IDK.
I agree with the others who recommend that FIL should not be released back home to live alone at 97 and 2 suicide attempts under his belt. He needs placement and another psychiatrist to evaluate him PROPERLY.
Wishing you the best of luck with a very difficult situation.
Try to have a happy holiday.
I’m going on a 7 day cruise on Monday with my husband, daughter and grandkids. Hopefully there are no health crises with either of my Paré between now and when the anchor goes up on Monday.
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