Long time reader, occasional participant. I'm absolutely no professional on this but ... between my parents, my in-laws, my uncle, extended family, friends and (being old myself) ... me I've some tangential experiences.
Caring for your loved ones can be a pain and, often, sibling interactions can make it even worse. In another post a caretaker lamented ... it's not like the slacker siblings are even going to see any of these posts.
Well, I'm one of those "slackers" and I read this stuff regularly. God bless the caretakers but ...
If one sibling makes the decision that Mom or Dad should stay home they just can't demand that everyone else see it their way and/or just jump on board.
Of course none of us should ignore our elderly parents but we all need to balance what's best for them along with what's best for ourselves. If we impoverish ourselves on behalf of our parents are we not setting ourselves (and our own kids) up for the same frustrations?
Suze Orman, the leather clad finance expert, often says, "Do what's best for yourself first as that's often what's best for your family."
My suggestion is that each sibling pretend that they are an "only child" and come up with a care plan.
Now if all siblings' plans were to immerse themselves 24 x 7 in Mom's care then it makes sense that all siblings should share the load somewhat equitably.
But if sister's plan is to immerse herself 24 x 7 while brother's care plan is to move Mom into a facility then where does sister get off demanding 12 x 7 (equal) participation from brother?
Ditto for the "single child" who's got the$100K (and more) to send Mom to a "memory care unit" and then demands I ante up half. Ain't no way (not on a $15K pension and $15K Social Security).
No parent is perfect but I do believe many to be good or, at least, well-intentioned. While parents may strive to love all their children equally they often have a one size fits all parenting plan which works for some kids but, often, not for all kids. Thus, siblings will often have different memories and different feelings about their childhood and for their parents.
And some parents are, and always were, just plain ol' jackasses. Just because they get old doesn't mean they are suddenly saints deserving of around the clock love and care. (I think if a parent is demanding to remain at home while the kids cater to them that they are exactly the kind of parent that belongs in a facility.)
I think siblings do owe each other complete honesty about how they feel and what they can or can't do and I think they owe each other respect for their view (yes, even if you think it's a bit selfish).
One family is ripping on this lady I know. They have careers, important jobs and/or own their own businesses. They don't have "free time" like the "9 to 5'ers". Plus "this lady" lives just a block away (rather than in the affluent suburbs). They all feel she should be checking in before work then after work (meal time) and then again in the evening (hey, it's just one block over).
They also feel she should be able to leave work to handle a crisis that might arise during the day. (She can, she's just an hourly employee, just a clerk.)
Because she's older, old enough to collect Social Security, they all think she should retire so she can spend more time with their parents. (She's working a couple more years so she can retire ... more comfortably.)
When she does go to help (several times a week) old wounds reopen; the constant criticism, the fights, the brutal beatings. The siblings say, "Oh, just get over it already." But you don't just get over it; PTSD is a process and it's different for everybody.
Yes, some siblings are jackasses but give it a try. Be honest with each other, be respectful, maybe even use a professional counselor to keep things on track. Give in if the family consensus is a nursing home (as that would mean you wouldn't be able to count on your siblings for a lot of help anyway). Your parents' care and safety is what's important. (Medicare will kick in once your parents run out of money.)
Best wishes ...
Thanks for your patience and indulgence.
You said, "... older people in your life are not like objects that can be moved about"
The flip side is that kids are not objects that should be manipulated by their elders.
I'm still cherishing what CWillie said, "... I have no doubt that some of us persist in care-giving to the detriment of ourselves and even our care recipient."
It's all a frustratingly impossible balancing act. Caretakers need to be reminded that they (and their lives) are at least as important as their elders' lives are.
One thing I've learned, and I'm writing it down, I WILL accept outside help as needed in my old age such that my kids will never come to view me as a burden. I have no fear of facilities, I know "giving up" my independence is one way of maintaining my independence.
Best wishes ...
Just read your most recent post while I was replying to someone else. Very happy to hear you reevaluated recently. That was largely my point. Do explore alternatives. Do reevaluate. Do modify as needed. Just giving yourself permission to think otherwise can "re-empower" you. One of my friends found a volunteer service that would stop by a couple times a week. It was just enough to take the edge off.
When I get grumpy at work I look at other jobs. Often I realize, hey, this ain't so bad afterall (sorry, not a great analogy).
You said, "... I have no doubt that some of us persist in care-giving to the detriment of ourselves and even our care recipient." I couldn't agree more.
You said in one succinct sentence what took me thousands of words of incoherent rambling to never quite make the point I was trying to make.
Luv ya.
Just got back from my son's (babysitting grandkids). The neighbor sat with my wife sobbing away. Her Mom had lived with her for years. They even bought a new house to better accommodate her and it worked ok for years until it just reached that point. The "wake-up call" was calling an ambulance to take her 75 year old husband to the hospital and not being able to go with him. It's two weeks later and her Mom calls everyday to bitch her out.
Another friend sent his Mom to the same facility. She spit and cursed. A month later she was loving her new home and all her new friends.
My Mom's a sweetheart and, truth be told, I would have had her live with me in a heart beat but between having a multi-storied house and a lively (ADHD) little grandson who lives with me (she doesn't tolerate him very well, doesn't even like visiting with us when he's home) it was not to be.
My wife knows the day is near when we will be placing her Dad. She dreads it but we all know there is no choice. In-home care/help has been great but it does have its limits. Two years ago we predicted the negative impact him living at home would have on his wife. Even though she does little to nothing on his behalf (they had a miserable marriage) it's just the "being there".
ALL the kids scrambled to make things work while she was in the hospital for a week and have hired 24 x 7 in-home care for both of them now that she's back. Short term it's working, long term it's not tenable. One or both will have to relocate in the very near future.
My understanding is even if they are "legally competent" that if they can't take care of themselves / if they're in danger you can use your DPOA for what's in their best interest. If you don't have one you can bring in Adult Protective Services and/or file for guardianship.
I do understand it's not easy. It's not easy caring for your loved ones nor is taking the "next step". I've been rambling on to remind people there are alternatives. You may choose not to take them but you should revisit them periodically. Just exploring them and re-rejecting them may make you feel a little better about your choices.
I'm facing that again myself. It took me years to get my Mom to move after Dad passed. She's really happy at her senior center but her dementia is beginning to put her at risk. It's time to get in-home to visit her everyday. That will probably delay the inevitable for a year or so. Strange how insurances etc. will help get you started towards facilities but do little to nothing to help avoid/delay a facility with in-home care.
Best wishes ...
I think your post pushed a few of my buttons, at first glance implying a "you made your bed" kind of attitude. After reading on this site I have no doubt that some of us persist in caregiving to the detriment of ourselves and even our care recipient. It is definitely a balancing act that needs periodic review.
I thought of how nice it would be if kids could just passively move their parent where they needed them to be. The wish of the parent, rather than the wish of any of the children, is what ends up creating the family caregiver situation in many or most circumstances. I don't blame an elder for not wanting to give up their home, but I do think it is sad when a child gives up their life to make it happen. The give and take is totally out of balance.
I didn't mean to come off sounding like the anti-christ or anything.
I live in a small city but even here we have access to a free elder care consulting center. They go over everything with us and help us make decisions that are appropriate for us. They can connect us with senior appropriate housing (private pay and subsidized), facilities, rec centers and daycare, in home care, insurances and the list goes on. It was a most pleasant eye-opener.
One of my friends was lamenting how his wife takes care of her mother 24 x 7 while the siblings do nothing. I asked a few questions and learned years ago her family had voted to move the Mom to a facility and she said, "Not my Mom!" So I teased, "Why did she disrespect the family decision?
It's been seven years, she gave it her all and I gave him the number to the service. A week later he contacted me, his wife was thrilled with the service and they were moving her Mom out.
A few weeks later she learned one of her daughters was having a difficult pregnancy. She was so happy that she was free to be able to fly out to help her daughter. Five months later she was back showing me pictures of her beautiful new grand daughter.
My only thought was you made your decision sometime back. Is there anything you can do / modify that would make things any better for both of you?
Prior to mom's decline and move to a facility - I always joked that her money would go three ways after I got my third - as it is she will likely outlast her limited savings
I am now contributing not only my time but my financial resources to my mom's care while my siblings do little to nothing - i can't change them so I'll just keep doing the best I can which I know everyone on this site is doing as well
be the last time I will see them. The thin thread will have been broken.
I included the rambling anecdote about this "lady I know" because she could have easily become another burned-out care-taker story. She stood her ground. She's no slacker though. She calls in a couple times everyday and stops over four to five times a week but she does it on her terms.
She focuses most of her time on her Dad, he has Alzheimer's. She talks with him, plays games with him and laughs with him. She has finally forged a relationship with him that she never had before.
Her Dad had money so, in their case, there were options. She stood her ground so her brothers (POAs) are finally starting to use the money to hire home care as needed.
When I say, "Do what's best for yourself" I don't mean I'd rather be watching the Kardashians than helping out Mom. I do mean I'm not going to drain my bank account, give up my job or give up my life to so a stubborn old parent can have their way.
And, yes, if the family can't or won't help out sufficiently then I would take legal action to force them into a facility and can provide for their care and safety.
When Dad passed leaving Mom there was a lot that needed to be done. Brothers were all agreeable but nothing was happening so my wife and I made a list, communicated to all including spouses, broke it into bite-sized pieces, prioritized and took it on piece by piece. Everyone was invited to everything and everything was documented with e-mails.
Fast forward Mom is happily settled in a townhouse on the edge of a senior center. Wills, living wills, trusts, estate, POAs, investments; everything is in fairly decent shape. Everyone has power, everyone's involved.
There were a couple hic-cups but the documented e-mail trail sorted those out quickly. I was momentarily overwhelmed after Mom's accident but because of my e-mails my brothers noticed that there was a lot going on and quickly jumped in.
I'm particularly pleased with the will. We were able to engage her and it sounds just like her. It doesn't all just go to the kids, some goes to each and every grandkid because she had a personal relationship with each and everyone. And she made sure all the wives were included equally because they were all like daughters to her. That's my Mom.
Knock on wood ... sometimes things just work : -)
I was a bit confused when what you wrote turned around. The wealthier siblings were picking the bones of the more meek one. The wealthier ones were doing what they wanted, leaving everything to the one sibling -- even demanding it of her. What you wrote is a very typical situation where the family evaporates, leaving one person to cope with it all. Should that person say that Mom needs to go in a NH? That would be understandable since the mother was abusive. But what if the mother absolutely refuses to go and the siblings still don't help beyond trying to bully the more humble sibling. What do you think the humble sibling should do? Walk away sounds good, but I suspect she is not made of that type stuff. How do you think the wealthier siblings could help? They seem to be benefiting from the sacrifices of the humble sibling.