I am in a real pickle. My mom has been told by her doctor, and most recently by an emergency room doctor, that she needs to be living in a facility that provides some level of care or in a living situation that does not involve having to climb 2 flights of stairs. Since her hospitalization in June, Visiting Nurses has provided care in her home, and she has been considered homebound. In any case, my mom will NOT agree to do anything (set up care with someone else for when they leave) or make arrangements to have various things done (groceries, laundry, taking out trash, etc. Her nurse, her social worker, me ... we're all broken records and she won't listen. She hung up on me Monday because I was telling her something she didn't want to hear re: hiring help to get to one of her doctor's appointments or risk a fall (which could negatively impact her independence and land her in a nursing home--which she doesn't want).
The nurse told me today that they have never run into a situation like this where someone just absolutely refuses help or is this stubborn. My mom is of sound mind, but is making decisions (as I've pointed out to her) that don't support the independence she still wants. She keeps saying she won't go into a nursing home. I am an only child, not married, and there is no other family on her side to help. I'm it. And it is not an option for her to move in with me or near me. Her needs exceed my ability to meet them, and I know what my limits are. I am willing to help, provide information, facilitate care, etc. but I am unable and unwilling to take on full-time caregiving in this situation.
So my question is twofold:
1) How would you handle this situation? And if you have had to deal with it, did you have to do to get your stubborn parent to take the right action?
2) At what point would a situation be considered neglect (by an adult child) under the law if they are aware of the unsafe situation, but the senior refuses to do anything on their own behalf or spend their money to make needed changes.
I'm at my wit's end and at the end of my rope. I don't know what to do!!!!
I hope its not dementia maybe get her to see a geriatrician that's what I did.
She wont go to doc for flu jab,she wont see lawyer about POA,she wont go for walk,wont eat healthy foods someone shoot me!
she wants to die whats ever inside her. I want to say ok its your life. BUT MY BROTHER WANTS HER TO DO WHAT DR WANTS .WHAT DO WE DO?
"has it all together" person she always was. There were lots of red flags that things were not going well. I managed to get her doctor's name off medicine bottles (she would not tell me), and talked to him after faxing him the Durable Medical POA that she was supposed to give him. He told me he did not think she should be living alone anymore. I mentioned that her sister died 2 months ago and she seems depressed, he said he would do a mental evaluation at their next appointment this month and would not mention speaking with me. He would then call me and give me his opinion, which may include him contacting a visiting nurse to assess her living situation and possibly work with the county aging office, which I can't do without her consent, to look at possible caregiving solutions.
I grew up in a very dysfunctional family, where there was abuse but we never talked about it. By going to her doctor, I broke the golden rule. I have to live with that guilt and the crap that I am going to get from my brother, who may have to wake up and start paying some attention to her finances, etc.
Fortunately, her doctor seems to understand my dilemma and is keeping me in the background. I don't know what will happen from here, but it will not be easy. Thanks everyone for the support.
Too bad. I admire your knowing and setting your limits. Good for you.
Do you know how I can go about looking getting one of those beds that goes up and down like a hospital bed? They are thinking this will help.