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Elderly parents

The second new shiny 2019 thread ...

961 replies

MereDintofPandiculation · 14/03/2019 21:28

... for anyone caring for elderly parents. Come and join us to ask for, or to give, sympathy, ask for advice, or have a good rant.

OP posts:
flamingnoravera · 26/06/2019 12:45

It seems over the top to employ a carer to administer 2 paracetomols four times a day. That is all mum needs in terms of medication at the moment but the dr wont prescribe anything in case mum overdoses. Mum is rubbing topical ibuprofen into her back at the moment and the doc says that is fine to carry on with.
I am going to not worry about it- I cannot fix up a carer from where I live (an hour away) just for a couple of paracetamol. I really don't get why the carers who are attending daily for her husband cannot do it- it seems uncecessarily bureaucratic that they refuse.

RosaWaiting · 26/06/2019 12:56

but it sounds like you are saying your mum needs more medication than that?

and if she is not getting what she needs...?

I think unless you change the contract with the carers for her husband to include her, that's not fair to them, they can't just be asked to take responsibility for someone else.

in terms of fixing a carer from where you live, no offence, but you might have to do it eventually anyway. It might not be a bad idea to get to know local care agencies for a small task actually.

when I had to investigate care for dad - similar distance involved so research done by phone - I found there was a lot of variation in what different agencies would do. This was private because they don't qualify for social care, but the agencies used by the local authority actually came across much better than the private ones.

RosaWaiting · 26/06/2019 12:58

PS my dad went from fit and well to virtually bed bound in a very short space of time, so when I rang round agencies I had to ask for quite full on care - there's probably a lot less variation if you are asking for small tasks or someone to in 4 x a day.

flamingnoravera · 26/06/2019 13:08

Mum has no medication needs apart from paracetamol for a sore back. She has alzhiemers but no medication (we have not had a full diagnosis yet- this is going to happen on Friday were I hope I can discuss care with the psychiatrist). I have a social worker coming in next week to do a care needs assessment and to be honest from what the doctor said the other day- the likelihood is that she will need residential care very soon. The carers going in now are from the after care team of the hospital from which mum's husband was released last week after an infection. He needs huge amounts of medication daily.

RosaWaiting · 26/06/2019 13:17

hopefully Friday's assessment will allocate carers just for your mum.

yolofish · 26/06/2019 18:37

nora I think you should be looking for carers for your mum as well as your dad, ideally via SS, so that they can continue where they are in the short term while you try and sort out long term care.

flamingnoravera · 27/06/2019 06:44

@yolofish part of the problem is that he is NOT my dad. They married in their 60s (I was 40) and he is an unpleasant man, I will not take on any caring responsibilities for him, he has three sons of his own who are not and have never pulled their weight in looking after him. My mum has looked after him for nearly 20 years when he was diagnosed with epilepsy and began to decline.

yolofish · 27/06/2019 18:14

The two BEST words in the English language: 'cancer free'. Hospital phoned, op a complete success and no spread to any of the 10-12 lymph nodes removed. Best possible outcome. Rehab will still be long, he's in a lot of discomfort/pain still, but OMG the relief. Thank you all my oldie thread friends for your kindness and support.

RosaWaiting · 27/06/2019 18:33

yolo ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

that's so great. Hugs all round Flowers

notaflyingmonkey · 27/06/2019 20:33

Well done to Mr Yolo and his perfect arse cheek!

Cockroach!

thesandwich · 27/06/2019 20:33

YOLO!😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀🥳🥳🥳
Wonderful wonderful news!!!

yolofish · 28/06/2019 21:04

It still doesnt seem real?! cockroach mes cheres amies

Needmoresleep · 29/06/2019 12:33

Brilliant news. You have had it so tough. I hope you can now emerge from the tunnel and have some essential selfish time.

FinallyHere · 29/06/2019 21:03

Such good news yolo hurrah for the perfect arse cheeks and the good news. 😀

MereDintofPandiculation · 01/07/2019 09:39

Great news, yolo!

OP posts:
Grinchly · 01/07/2019 16:48

Oh yolo that is fabulous news!
GrinGrinGrinGrinGrinGrinGrinGrin

yolofish · 01/07/2019 21:19

How are you all doing? I mean YOU, not your oldies. One thing that has become very clear to me over the last year is that no one ever asks that irl, instead as the 'support' person you are supposed to be ever willing, ever attentive, carry the whole mental and familial load and do it willingly with a smile on your face, and ideally also maintain your job, your house and preferably look great too.

Sorry, I'm slightly bitter today. I'm feeling quite bullied by DH and the DDs, I feel like the butt of everyone's issues and I'm not allowed to have any of my own. I know we are lucky, it's not all about me, yada yada, but sometimes I would like someone to acknowledge everything I do and be a little bit grateful, instead of siding with DH about what a crap driver I am, or that the kitchen's not tidy enough or the washing's not done or whatever fucking thing. Bah.

cockroach to all.

thesandwich · 01/07/2019 21:57

Oh yolo sending you a big hug and and patting down a cushion for you to flop on and vent away.
You always sound so strong and resilient.... they probably don’t see you needing support and appreciation.
Can you escape with dog for a bit? Do what fuels you. Make you a priority.

FinallyHere · 02/07/2019 11:16

{{{{{hugs}}}}} yolo

I'm sorry to read that, hope they get a grip soon and stop taking you for granted.

Cockroach, one and all

RosaWaiting · 02/07/2019 11:26

yolo sorry to hear that. have you said this to them? Or gone on strike, I mean if they don't like your driving...

how's everyone doing?

Today I'm thinking, why do I have all the patience some days and other days none at all? I won't bore you with the details but today my mum is doing a job I consider pointless, just to occupy herself. In fairness I'm not working today, so she called knowing that I wasn't working and I still got annoyed. She had a query about the best way to do this Pointless Task and I just thought, argggh.....

I know I'm being mean. I'm about to go on a very long walk as it's a lovely day and she doesn't have those options, so I should be less irritable by a phone call from mum.

It is nothing to do with her really. I suppose it's like, some days your colleagues annoy the crap out of you and you don't know why.

Needmoresleep · 02/07/2019 12:00

Yolo I understand.

About four years ago, when I was alread six or seven years into the elderly parents thing, with unhelpful sibling, a big mother crisis after a fall, her continued agression towards me, lots of issues managing her financial affairs, and the standard supporting teenager stuff, we had an awful summer which involved DD being helicopter evacuated to hospital whilst on holiday and DH ending up in intensive care.

A couple of months later I sort of ran away. I was down visiting my mother and checked into a cheap off season hotel and did very little. I walked, read, and treated myself to some nice meals. And no demands. I renewed my hotel room on a daily basis, for about four days until DD phoned to say she was missing me and could I come home.

Since then it has been easier. Their needs have reduced, though DD had a bumpy first year at University, and I have got more able to claim my space. I have become a bit of a lady who lunches as I consolidate my friendship network. Plus my spare time, spare till my mothers next crisis, is being used to catch up on theatre, evening classes, walking etc.

Its sort of why I went missing from this thread. You can only support effectively for so long. It very much sounds as if you need a break. Explain yourself and your needs to your family. It is actually important that your children do not see you as everyones doormat.Take a few days off when you can. Is there an old school friend you can visit? Or similar. Something absolutely non demanding and fun. And anyway you can outsource the domestic chores. Children cooking one day a week, supermarket deliveries, cleaner? I definitely felt I needed to re-find myself after the parenting years.

RosaWaiting · 02/07/2019 12:06

Adult DC living there, even temporarily, should be on a rota for chores

We did laundry from about 14 I think. Chuck it in, do homework, unload etc etc

Grinchly · 02/07/2019 16:41

needmoresleep and the sandwich
Such wise advice.

I would not still have my head above water without my cleaner. My house isn't large, I live alone with cats and a dog but it still gets messy.

Genuine lifesaver - 2hrs a week and it's ace. Basically 25% of the weekend saved as I am not as efficient as she is!

I've a short break coming up next week - just me and the dog. On the Sunday after I get back the neighbours are having a street party Hmm .

So I'm moving on that day to a very nice hotel in my mother's village. I can't bear to stay at the house itself, I hate it so much, so this is a nice treat just for me, and I can do some jobs at the house too. If I feel like it. Wink

These little breath-holes are essential for sanity, the preservation of.

flamingnoravera · 02/07/2019 19:33

I'm fuming. Mum saw the psychiatrist on Friday and a diagnosis of dementia was given. She's on anti depressants and is very drowsy and confused. I told her husband's son that she was going to bed in the daytime- this is unheard of for my mum- she's always been so active and positive. His reply was "I also like to sometimes have nap in middle of day I’m jealous ".

I have held off replying to him because I know I have to keep the peace but I am livid and hurt for my mum that he thinks this is something so trivial.

I need him to know that this kind of reply to an information text is totally inappropriate but can't find the words because it's so crass. I'd really welcome any suggestions of how to tell him this is not funny nor would he want to be in her shoes...

yolofish · 02/07/2019 19:41

oh nora that is really crass. I would hold off for at least 24 hours while you try and formulate a sensible response - and we can help you.

I have kicked some ass today with the girls, and it seems to be working. I'd never charge them rent, but they need to appreciate they are living rent free, bill free, and 4 adults live here - as the billpayers we dont want to live in a student hovel or hear shit about 'but it's her mess not mine'. DD2 takes it on board, but DD1 always always tries to negotiate - which is probs why she will be very successful in life but fuck me it gets wearing!