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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think he's her problem

52 replies

strawberrycake · 12/11/2010 13:09

My Grandad started an affair 20 years ago, 5 years later he left my Nan and moved in with with the OW. My Nan died soon after after a fall at home alone (not relevant but info).

In the last 15 yrs he has lived as her dh, DIY etc. Her kids/ grandkids have been his with daily contact. He's worked hard, even helping her ds build his house and lots of babysitting etc. The house is plastered with photos of OW's family, there is not one photo of his kids/ grandchildren or great grandchildren. There has been minimal contact (a card at birthdays or christmas, one a yr or so phone call). He's acted like an arse generally to his family in other ways too, too many to mention.

Now he's ill with a form of dementia, caused by mini-strokes, it only gets worse if he has more. Now her family suddenly want practical/ financial help with him now he's difficult. He has worked hard for them for years in so many ways.

Are we as a family BU to say he's now their families issue? We'll lend a listening ear, be civil etc. but don't feel inclined to do much practically in terms of money for care/ letting him move in with us. Her family are well off btw, partly thanks to his input.

OP posts:
onimolap · 12/11/2010 21:26

I have an aged relative with what sounds like a similar condition: it's not exactly dementia, but there are post-TIA arteracts in the brain which cause dementia-like symptoms. For a while, she was fine some of the time, then it was like she would "drop out" of functioning. This has gradually worsened, and she is now in a proper nursing home, and IMHO that is the best place now.

His new family might just be making the right decision if they are really considering a home ( that is, a nursing home, not an attempt to parachute him into the home of any member of a family he abandoned).

I think you would be right to decline practical and financial support - not least as he chose them, not you, for holis future.

Offering emotional support (or as you put it, being civil), acknowledging the blood bond and staying in touch, and visiting whereever he ends up, would of course be the humane thing to do (even for a cantankerous old sod).

And as he was the one who moved away from you, then it would BU to expect more.

onmyfeet · 12/11/2010 21:46

He made his bed, now he can lay in it. A home is not that bad, he will end up in one most likely.

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