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Elderly parents

Elderly DM drama and agression continues

7 replies

orangeandtomato · 27/08/2025 12:34

I have written here before. In a nutshell I live in the UK, my DM (mid 80s) on the Continent. She is relatively well and healthy/ independent for her age. I visit 2x a year despite not having a bed to sleep on (that is another matter). She has new neighbours above her (apartment). Her apartment is large and comfortable and she has been there nearly 40years. She has lovely neighbours (other than above). New neighbours caused couple of floodings this year due to faulty in pipework that now has been assesed and will be fixed, however... She has this fixation about moving to a different flat. I asked her where would she like to move (part of city) she doesnt know. I told her that now she is central and has a lovely community (yet she moans about them), if she sells her property she will lose money (market in that country) and she will have to downsize, her flat will be knocked on the price as it needs refurb, a new porperty will need refurb as well. There are legal costs associated that will add up. There is a period between her selling and buying and where would she live interim? Who will pack her 3 bedrooms? (I live abroad). How is she planning to pay for the property if she will lose money anyway? She has no smart phone or email yet is adamant she can handle anything - yet she cant answer simple question where is she moving to? Her cognitive decline started a year ago and is slow but noticeable. She is agressive towrds me each time I ask her simple questions so this week she bluntly said that she wants me to come over now (drop everything) and talk to her and plan, and help her sell and buy and contribute financially to it all. Basically she wants me to take the budren of the entire sell buy move process at the cost of my personal life because she says so. I am currently out of work trying to move away from freelance into perm, I have stresses around my health and my partner who is much older than me and I really do not have anymore to give into her irrational demands. How would you go about it? I do have boundaries. I am in therapy but she is relentless in that plan of getting me over there and beig her lady in waiting. She told me I can get a teaching job or something to get pocket money. Mum I have a life to live, I have no employment history in her country really and will not work as part time teacher, I am not even qualified to be one. She seems to have this little plan and steam roll it. She told me this week she is very ill (she isn't), she can not cope (she copes very well is fit for her age) and she needs to move. Sadly I wasnt quick enough as i should have said 'well mum if you are so ill then a move in your state would be very risky to your health as it is too much stress'. I am exhausted; this whole week already is a mess for me. I have my own problems which she has no clue about and I am at the end of my tether. How do you approach this? Any tips? Or just words of courage.

OP posts:
Fragmentedbrain · 27/08/2025 12:35

Honestly I'd take advantage of the sea buffer and not talk to her for a bit

MarxistMags · 27/08/2025 12:39

Why have you not got a bed to sleep in if there are 3 bedrooms ?

parietal · 27/08/2025 12:40

Can she move into a care home? And then stay there? If she has started declining cognitively then things might only get worse if she stays in her flat.

do you have power of attorney for her? Does she have a local support network where she is?

pikkumyy77 · 27/08/2025 12:47

Since you can’t help you don’t help. Its ugly but quite straightforward. If she had full blown dementia and wanted to sell the flat to Orcs and move to Mordor you wouldn’t be entertaining the debate so don’t start now. Don’t bother with negotiations. Look into eldercare protection services (if any) and securing the property she does have as her heir. In a non UK country you might have more rights, you might have no rights. She sounds like she is going to need a conservator soon. Find out what you need to know but stay away from her demands. Try saying “yes but not now…in two years” if a flat no does not work.

NoBinturongsHereMate · 27/08/2025 12:47

I'm going to give the same advice you got from everyone on your last thread.

Disengage.

This is only your problem if you make it your problem.

Purplecatshopaholic · 27/08/2025 12:54

NoBinturongsHereMate · 27/08/2025 12:47

I'm going to give the same advice you got from everyone on your last thread.

Disengage.

This is only your problem if you make it your problem.

Absolutely this. Op, you have choice here! Disengage, partially, or preferably close to completely. You live in a different country FFS! She gets on with it, or she stays put. This is only your problem if you take it on…

orangeandtomato · 27/08/2025 13:04

thank you. I think many gave me advice on guilt already. Tbh I am actually phisically ill since the conversation this week. It affects me. She will not go to care. She already said to me that under any circumstances she will not go plus where she is the care homes are not like here in the UK. It is culturally seen as very bad to put your parents in care. I know! I think she expected to be looked after by me, her son in law (which she hasnt got) and entertained by grandchildren which she doesnt have. All this could have happened but when I was in my early 20s and announcanced we are getting married the first thing I heard was 'dont even think we will look after your children'. Well my parents didnt. I moved abroad, we got divorced, my ex passed away years later thats the story. Life. Today I hear each summer how so and so was taken away to Italy, Greece etc how so and so grandchildren are entering Phd, how so and so son in law was helpful in this and that and it is all a dig at me. My life turned out completely not how I wished and imagined and I do have my struggles but it doesnt matter to her. She is now at the stage of life where it is all about her.

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