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Elderly parents

At a loss

17 replies

emsworth · 30/12/2020 00:58

Difficult to be brief but will try.
DPs in late 70s ~divorced about 8 years ago.
DF moved to be near us. Functioning alcoholic {we thought}. Financially no concerns ~bought property outright and we decorated before he moved in.
First year was good ~family support and new hobbies and interests. Drinking ++
Then stopped me visiting ~came to us every week for dinner etc but not allowed to visit him at home.
After years {!} of this I finally pushed my way in {after 2 sets of his neighbours visited me to say there were issues with his property}
Living in squalor, rat infested, no hot water for 2 years.
No explanation or real concern but did want me to help sort things out.
Took 2 weeks unpaid leave to clean and tunnel into kitchen.
Relieved I had intervened.
Lockdown ~vulnerable. Did all of his shopping, rubbish removal etc for months. Alcohol ran out while we were on holiday. Had massive withdrawal collapsed and police broke in after 72 hours {nearly died}
Smashed femur and 6 weeks hospital and rehab.
Discharged to my home 4 months ago. Essentially behaving as if he is at an all inclusive hotel. Only sits with us as a family when we call him for food, continues to use a commode when he doesn't need to and I empty this.
Doesn't initiate anything unless told |washing, changing pants, getting himself a drink nothing.
Articulate, fully able to make all decisions but actually happy to be waited on.
Walking indeptly, no aids but not been outside once in 4 months. Just csn:t be bothered.
Not depressed and has not even wanted to go home for even an hour.
Is shocked if I suggest that he maybe does a bit more for himself.
I am parenting a competent adult who takes no responsibility and doesn't want to make any plans to leave.
I am finding his attitude to all this and absolute passivity really challenging.
This may also be linked to the fact that he was a present but largely absent father growing up.

OP posts:
LouiseTrees · 30/12/2020 01:10

Tell him if he could use a functioning toilet he will do so and remove the commode. Tell him if he pees the bed he will do the washing and he will also pay for any damage. Re the spending time with the family, don’t push it. Treat it about like he’s a sulky teenager, pick your battles.

JingleJohnsJulie · 30/12/2020 08:30

Wow that's so difficult and I think that you have been amazing.

I would definitely talk to him about removing the commode. Like the pp you may need to suggest that he pays fir any damage. Is there a toilet close by that he has easy access too?

Once you've sorted that out, could you talk to him about getting some physio? Sounds like he needs some to help him get moving again.

Has he had a care assessment too?

JingleJohnsJulie · 30/12/2020 08:32

It might help to speak to al-anon too Thanks

Topseyt · 30/12/2020 09:30

It certainly sounds as though you will have to remove the commode, or at least consider doing so because it is allowing him to be lazy and is now one of his tools for treating you as a skivvy.

Contact AA too, as already suggested. Also adult social services, as I think you are going to struggle to cope with him long term, whether he moves back to his own house or remains in yours.

Sounds like he could do with some assisted living somewhere other than your house. Arranging that could be an issue, but if social services can be galvanised into action then that would help.

emsworth · 30/12/2020 11:43

Thanks everyone ~really appreciate the messages.
I am going to have to just get on with planning his move.
He has pretty much trashed his 3 storey town house that was immaculate when he moved in and has almost disconnected from it completely.
will need to get it deep cleaned and decorated before it can be sold.
Just need sometimes to check if IABU.
Up until recently I was making him breakfast and he was up at 9am ready to eat.
now because he needs to make it himself he doesn't bother ~it is 11.40am and not seen him.
I do feel angry but then feel guilty.

OP posts:
AcornAutumn · 30/12/2020 15:54

OP I'm a bit unclear on your father's health

You say he can walk independently

Does he have full mental capacity?

Aquamarine1029 · 30/12/2020 15:57

It's time for him to go and way past time for you to assert yourself.

endofthelinefinally · 30/12/2020 16:04

What a pity he was discharged to your home. This, unfortunately, is a tactic to avoid sorting out appropriate care plans
IME, and believe me, this is a depressingly familiar story to me, I think you will have to get a medical and social services assessment, find a suitable care home, get an assessment from them and sell the house to pay for his care.

AcornAutumn · 30/12/2020 16:09

Sorry, you said he had capacity, i just re read

So capacity and independent movement?

If I have understood this correctly, he needs to go back to his own home and sort it out, maybe by paying people, but you can't do it.

The other thing is, if you end up selling his house to pay for care, do you care what price it fetches? I understand if it forms part of an inheritance of course.

emsworth · 30/12/2020 17:10

He does not need care. He needs a housekeeper and cook tbh.
I work as a clinician so understand fully the system.
just struggling with the emotions of it all ~the push pull of frustration and then guilt.
can not relate to the inertia and lack of personal responsibility.
it will work but only if I make it happen which is I think what is really galling. 😐😐

OP posts:
endofthelinefinally · 30/12/2020 18:05

I am so sorry OP. With alcoholics it never ends, it only gets worse. I hope you manage to sort something out.
If he can't cook for himself or cater, he does clearly need social support.
Can he manage to maintain a home? Shop? Pay bills? Maintain personal and environmental hygiene? Sort out his own health care?
These are all boxes to tick, or not.
If you are having to do all the above, you are his carer.

SparklingLime · 30/12/2020 18:14

This is an absolute head-fuck, @emsworth. And I’ve been in a situation with similarities. Do not wear yourself out pandering to him.

Have you read any books for adult children of alcoholics? Perfect Daughters comes to mind.

I’d suggest resetting your boundaries eg Why is a commode even available if he doesn’t need it?

AcornAutumn · 30/12/2020 18:15

@emsworth

He does not need care. He needs a housekeeper and cook tbh. I work as a clinician so understand fully the system. just struggling with the emotions of it all ~the push pull of frustration and then guilt. can not relate to the inertia and lack of personal responsibility. it will work but only if I make it happen which is I think what is really galling. 😐😐
Does he "need" a housekeeper and cook?

I'm afraid I'd let him go home and crack on. Ask Adult Social Services to be involved.

endofthelinefinally · 30/12/2020 18:18

You are entitled to a carer's assessment. You are entitled to state that you cannot cope, cannot fulfill that role.

MichelleScarn · 30/12/2020 18:21

Sadly it sounds like the more you do for him, the more you'll do for him. Get a date set for when he's going home, offer support to get his house sorted but he has to engage, so basically its up to him in what shape his property is when he returns .

Yohoheaveho · 06/01/2021 12:19

This sounds like an impossible situation and I feel your father has deep-seated psychological issues, how are you getting on OP?

emsworth · 06/01/2021 23:36

Yohoheaveho thank you for asking.
I have set goals and a time frame re:moving and sorting property.
These are on track but only because I am driving them.
ultimately I have to accept that he isn't going to change and that he will continue to self neglect and live a life of inertia {relatively happily tbh}.
I will support with a structure of sorts and regular input.
I am working full time in a clinical setting so don't have the headspace because of the pressure of the pandemic to do any more.
I have a partner and ds whom this is impacting so I do have a responsibility to them to try and get our family life back.
I am fully ensconced in the world of mental health and services, so this was more a post about the emotional impact rather than practical rights based support.

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