So I created a post several years ago, and wanted to look for help based on the current situation. My father-in-law had a debilitating stroke a few years ago. He can't walk on his own, barely talks and has a feeding tube for nutrition. He has been in a nursing home the past few years, and recently he ended up in the hospital with a UTI. My wife now wants him out of this nursing home, and wants to move him into our home to take care of him. Here are a couple things to keep in mind.
Our house is not wheelchair accessible, bathrooms/hallways are a bit tight.
We have 2 small children that live in the house, she wants to put them into one room so he can have his own room. Or put him into the oldest one's room, he's not pleased with that idea as you can imagine.
No one in his family cares much about him, including his estranged wife and 3 other kids. He has a sister who wishes he was dead. My wife is the only one who wants to take care of him.
My wife is a nurse, and she is under the impression that she'll be able to handle his care 24-7. I know it's going to take 2 people to get him to the bathroom or to change his diaper.
He has no income besides Medicare, about $800 a month, and the nursing home has been using that for the past few years.
Now I've expressed my opinion on the situation, but I don't think she is taking anyone else into consideration. She has already closed his account at the nursing home, and he will soon be release from the hospital. I'm pretty sure she is just going to bring him home. She does not discuss any details with me. I told her that this decision could possibly break apart our family, and she is willing to go that route, BUT we are living on a combined income so I don't see how she would be able to do it on her own, much less with both of us on board. Me personally, I think he has had no quality of life in the past few years. No one has gone to visit him, including my wife. I don't see any way for his condition to improve as it has gotten much worse over the past year. If it was my father, I would have a talk with the immediate family about removing the feeding tube and let him pass. I know that is a hard decision, but lying in bed all day and not seeing anyone ever is awful. I've asked other family members on her side if they would be able to take him in, and of course no one will, they all have excuses. I've asked if they would like to move him to a different facility in their area/states, where he can be closer to them, and no one has stepped up. The facility he was at was a good hour or so from us, it was the closest one available.
Does anyone have any knowledge of what Medicare/Medicaid would cover for caregiving at home? What I saw was 35 hours a week, but not for long term. My wife said that she could be his caregiver, and they would pay her X amount of money, but I didn't hear any other details with that option so I don't know if we could afford that route. My wife would have to quit her current job, so we would be losing half of our income, and with the way everything is costing right now, we can't afford to do that. So I guess, my question is a couple parts. 1, how do I convince her that this isn't an option? Even if money wasn't an issue, I honestly don't think she could handle it. She brought him home for a holiday last year, took care of him for 2 days. After the 2nd day she had to take 2 days off of work because of the exhaustion. 2nd question, does anyone have any real life experience dealing with Medicare/Medicaid for home health care, at home care giving, so I have those facts ready when I try to have a discussion with her? Also note, this has been a very hostile topic, and has caused some knock down drag out fights, some occurring in front of our youngest child. I have told her numerous times, that I do not want this to cause these fights in front of the kids as it's harming them mentally. We've had some issues now with our youngest at school. Please help!
She might need a work sabbatical instead of going this route. Can she take off a month or two from work, just rest and rejuvenate, then the discussion on Dad can resume? (He goes back to the NH for this period she's off.)
After a period away from her major stresses, she might think more clearly on things and be more rational about it all. The fact that she'd be willing to up-end the entire family's lives is concerning, so I'll bet there's something else behind this.
You can think about this, I have mixed ideas. I sleep in the bed my mother died in, but I do know that some people find the whole things very off. In fact, I’ve met a couple who insisted on building a new house, just to be sure that no-one had died in it. What does W say about this aspect?
With today's commercial office spaces, there is a glut of available space, but the rents or buying have gone skyward, I know one would think the commercial property owner or management company would lower rents/sales to get the offices filled. The owner can write off vacant spaces as a loss for tax purposes.
If you find you really need to escape, I highly recommend sub-letting a space where a company/group has an empty office you can use.
I really hope this situation doesn't come to a point where you can no longer work from home.
I encourage you to make her get the actual Medicaid situation in writing. Because it is usually minimum wage for minimum hours. They tend to think that a family member is doing what they are for familial love, not pay.
Does she think she can nurse him out of being a piece of crap? Because she can't. Brain injuries and illness tend to make people more of what they are.
His behavior screams user and she doesn't see that his "get me outta here! " is just using her. My lands, he doesn't every care about his grandchildren, that says everything I need to know. He's a self centered, selfish pos and she is willing to ruin everyone's life around her to please him?
You sure you want your son raised by her?
It sounds she is set on this course, but maybe point out how many people it takes to care for her Dad, in shifts? And she thinks she ( and family ) can do what it takes a whole team to do?
If or when Dad comes in ( hopefully not! ) maybe focus entirely on the kid care - and yourself! That’s still a lot and I’m sure you all could use stability and some good times together. Easier said than done of course but you get the idea.
Totally rooting for you….sending you much luck!
Everyone in the family will be impacted and your financial, mental and physical health. Your kids will be impacted the most as she will not have any time for anything other than caring for her father.
If I were in this situation, I would not allow her to bring him home and if she did, I would find somewhere else for the rest of the family to live. I think you need to give her the same ultimatum.
I can state with absolute firmness that your kids will be negatively affected by this for the rest of their lives.
Example: A sick person in the home is essentially the 'boss' Everything revolves around their care.
Her dad dies while in your home. Whichever kid got displaced by Grandpa is almost assuredly going to be 'icked out' by this. My kids loved their grandpa, but when he'd start in with his phlegmy cough which would last for hours--they left the house and didn't come back until they knew he'd be gone. They loved him, but were too young to have the compassion and long range judgment to see that the care I gave him in our home (meals and visits only-he never moved in)--was just that: love and compassion. But I NEVER allowed my DH to bring him to our house for 'good'. I would have left my DH and taken my kids and gone ANYWHERE to not be told day and night that I wasn't 'nice'. (Yet I never ONCE saw my DH do anything of a CG job for his dad. Anything involving bodily fluids had him barfing his guts out, while I am trying to deal with the issue at hand.
My mom just passed away, 3 weeks ago. She died in her home, 'near' her bed. None of us adults were unduly shocked or terrified of this, but we didn't tell the ggkids how she died, or where. They'd never go back to her apartment.
My heart aches for you. Your wife doesn't seem of sound mind at all!
BTW--I must have missed this--who is your dad's POA? If it's you, then you hold the 'winning hand'. USe that to 'force' the movement of your dad to a different NH if the one he's been in has released him and won't take him back.
So sorry for your struggles.
"She does have POA with him, and I was pretty pissed off that she was the one to sign up for that task early on. I have asked her one sibling if he could transfer that to him, but again no action, just talk."
Barring that, it won't work. Your wife will probably burn out in short order
This poor guy's life is in total disarray and you think it's FUNNY? SMH.
I would write down all the negative and positive points and use that as a guide to keep the conversation on track. You guys have to speak about this situation, it will change the lives of every person in the home. Everything will be about her dad and his needs. What about a fair shot for the children living in the home?
Maybe approaching this as a discussion of "What is this caregiving situation going to look like? would be more palatable for her and you. In reality everyone will be helping prop this situation up, either by direct care or picking up the slack because your wife is giving everything to her dad and not able to do anything else.
She isn't thinking right now, she is being led by her emotions and that never works out well.
I am curious, how old is dad? Did his stroke occur from a medical condition or lifestyle choices?
Bottom line for your wife to understand, none of us get out of here alive. If him dying in a NH is going to ruin her, what is going to happen when he dies under her watch?
Don't argue with her, it only causes her to dig in. Help her sort out the reality of this choice and have an exit plan that gets dad back into managed care after a given time, if things are going to pot.
Her Dad is 70, had the stroke when he was 67, ohhh about a month after we got married. And get this, he has afib..he actually had a mini stroke about a month previous to the major one. Dr. prescribed him eliquis, and guess what, he didn't take it. Cried about how much it cost, or that he was throwing it up, but never let my wife know about any of that. Well, a month later, and boom, major stroke, laid out on the floor for 8 hours..honestly shouldn't have made it. I think if he died here, she would be perfectly content, thinking that she did a great job at the end of his life. She has stated numerous times that the NH is going to kill him, and while all NH's can have poor care, this one has a 5.0 rating on Google, so it must not be that bad. But again, if you never saved any money, ripped everyone off, including your own family, have no assets, and end up getting sick, you are going to get the best care that your SS pays for. It's difficult to not argue with her about this topic, as I get pretty furious at her for even considering it. This is not something that has just come up, but an ongoing off and on issue over the past few years.
I just read your other posts and there's something going on with her that she wants to keep hidden. I'll tell you what I think it is and I hope I'm wrong.
She wants a divorce from you and doesn't want to be the "bad guy" who throws her husband, the father of her children out.
So she'll take her invalid father out of the nursing home and move him in and it will drive you out.
I was married twice myself and I know that people will do all kinds of things when they want out of a marriage rather than just tell the truth.
My friend, I feel terrible for you. I really do. Your marriage is over, but don't give into your wife. She's choosing her father over her husband and children. Don't let her chase you out of your house because it belongs to you too.
What's happening to you usually happens to women (daughters). The husband wants his mother or father to move in and his wife gets no say at all.
Talk to a lawyer right away. Since you are also an owner of the home you may be able to get a court-order preventing her father from being moved into the house that you also own.
Go to the nursing home he is in. Tell their administrator that you also own the house you live in and that you are not allowing him to be moved into your house.
Talk to a lawyer.
People struggling with the effects of long COVID may have noticeable problems with attention, memory, and executive function. This sounds like a classic case with your wife. Therefore, no matter what you say, she will fight you tooth and nail.
If only your wife could see a neurologist, take tests, and see if there are any issues due to covid. Make up some excuse to make an appointment, even tell her the appointment is for yourself and you want her there for support, let the doctor know in advance what is going on.
I second the opinion that since you have no "voice" whatsoever in what is about to happen, then you truly step back, offering no assistance, as your wife moves her dad into the home. Absolutely, leave for the weekend, letting your wife know that you are doing this FOR HER. Tell her that you are doing this to allow her no distractions as she gets her dad moved in and settled, and you will get the children out of the way....this allows you to be the GOOD guy, because you are thinking of her, and removes you as the target of her anger. The more that you two butt heads over this, the more ammunition she has to be angry with YOU. Don't give her that opportunity!
And then watch as things unfold....when she needs help with her father, be empathetic, and tell her that the best help you can offer to her is to take the kids out of her way, so you are going to get them ice cream of dinner or go to a movie, whatever.
As others have said, leave ALL the care to her. ALL of it. The most that you will do is remove the children to "give her the room she needs to care for dad", and you are doing this for HER. This is the support you offer her.
And when her anger turns to you for not helping her, you can point out that you ARE helping, you are helping in the best and most caring way possible-- allowing her the space and silence to care for dad, which you will have to point out, is EXACTLY WHAT SHE WANTED.
You mentioned that your wife's brothers thought it was a good idea back then that FIL move in (why of COURSE they did; as MALES they figured it wasn't THEIR duty?).
How old are the kids now? The youngest is, what 4/5? And then there's a 13/14 y/o. You mentioned your oldest daughter, but then also a stepson. Are there 3 kids? (And if you divorced your previous wife 8 years ago, only the youngest child is your biological child?) Did you adopt the stepson?
You've stated that you will not move out of your house, since apparently you did that last time and then charged with abandonment. You've also stated that you are going to let it happen that your wife takes your FIL home from the hospital.
I'm wondering if you are really going to let her do everything by herself. I expect that you are going to step in and become fully embroiled in FIL's care when you are home "for the good of the kids" or some such belief.
Will you come back and at least update us this time?
I foresee divorce in your future.
It’s just possible that this approach might help.
If Dad stays in the NH, she believes she has *failed* him, has failed as a daughter, is a *bad* person as judged by her culture.
*No NH ever!*
Why? What's the underlying belief behind that statement? Is it "people who LOVE or CARE don't put their LO in nursing homes?
I think the way could be for your Wife to find an acceptable replacement statement - to tell herself & maintain her cultural dignity.
(It is her own thoughts holding her in this guilt pattern afterall).
Something like, I tried everything, but Dad's care needs are just too high for me at home. He needs round the clock care by a full team. I wish it was different.
"And when she said "we don't put our family in nursing homes"
This. This is the crux of it.
Do NOTHING to help her get ready for this train wreck. Do NOT allow her to move your children's bedrooms or make them share.
You've probably talked this to death but I'd say:
"I love you honey but I am 110% against this and am offering absolutely no assistance. I do not want your dad living here. It is not good for our marriage or our children. Or our budget. $800 a month social security? A nurse makes WAY more than that."
I like your idea of taking the kids on a trip when/if the dreaded day comes that she actually plans on taking him home to your house. Hmm, but then she might set him up in one of the kids rooms while you're gone. Might have to put locks on the outside of the doors to prevent that!
Even though you have no actual rights, I would call the hospital and let SOMEONE know that you, the hubby, are not onboard with her bringing her daddy home to your house and do not feel this to be a safe discharge.
Keep us posted. I am anxious to hear how this unfolds. I hope she comes to her senses, for everyone's benefit including her dad.
You say, "please help!" How so? You won't move out, you tried that with the ex and it turned out to be a bad idea. Your wife has already checked her father out of the NH, so what are your options?
I'll wish you good luck and most of all Godspeed dealing with the hell that's about to break loose here, thanks to your wife who's refusing to take anyone or anything into consideration here but herself. I'm sorry for your kids, most of all. I think you should speak to an attorney about what
to do here, personally. Hopefully he'll have some guidance and suggestions for you that prove useful.
1) FIL will not be taking over any child's room as said child will know about, if not witness, the bowel accidents, the feeding tube disconnects, and whatever slimy mess emanates, followed by the knowledge of death rattles and such. IN HIS OWN ROOM.
1a) She ships him there, she stays with him in your room while you are in one of your children's, or if you prefer, out in the living room sleeping on the marital bed that she's not welcome in for the duration.
2) Observe that if she can really do this, she can just go back to work, long covid or not. It's not like working at home through answering nurse calls or processing workers comp doesn't exist.
3) Do not offer to do anything for him. I mean anything. Do not get trained on how to assist her with a Hoyer lift. Do not mop up his fecal. Just tell her you're busy dealing with her kids for a choice that you never made.
No exceptions.
If your wife is so determined to have something in the home that does little more than lie around and piss in your house, buy her a cat.