DH's mother lives 200 miles away. She has secondary bone cancer, diagnosed a couple of months ago. She had breast cancer about 8 years ago and had a mastectomy.
She has also been suffering with a recurring stomach complaint that no one has ever been able to diagnose over the past 2-3 years and this has flared up again recently. She is violently sick every morning and can't leave the house before lunchtime - not that she does leave the house really.
Now, the thing is FIL is 81 and is caring for her alone. They live quite remotely. We are worried that MIL - and for that matter FIL - are not getting all the support they need and being 200 miles away we feel a bit helpless as to how to help them. FIL can't cook, they live on microwave meals and cheese on toast. The house is getting dirty but they won't have a cleaner. MIL is also VERY reluctant to leave their home, though being on a hill in the middle of nowhere isn't much good in their situation...
MIL is scared to death with what is going to happen to her. She is also getting very depressed, refusing to eat, drinking very little and not getting up.
Who can we ask for help? I think she has a Macmillan nurse. The doctor doesn't seem to help much. But who cares for the elderly in this situation???
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Care for elderly, sick MIL...
12 replies
minko · 09/01/2013 20:50
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