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My aunt is having knee replacement surgery. My cousin asked me if I can stay with her for a week or so until she recovers.


Mind you, I have stayed with this aunt for a week, unsuccessfully before. She doesn't listen to me or let me assist her, and gets aggravated with me when I try. I live five hours away and I work.


I told my cousin no. I can't this time. I explained that I work, cannot be away, and that my aunt and I frustrate one another. My cousin said she can't, as she has a family, and her sister works. I understand all of this, but they don't understand my situation. I told her to tell my aunt to expand the caregiver's hours so that she has someone there, since no one can stay. She said she will check with her and get back to me.


Meanwhile, I think my aunt is miffed at me, as she hasn't been picking up when I call her. I have limited my visiting time. I haven't been to see her in a month. Am I wrong?

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Oh the constant pressure these folks keep up!

Actually, why didn't Aunt call HERSELF to ask you? Hmm. I smell a monkey..

Aunt wants something. She instructs her minions, the local cousin/s. They take to the air like flying monkeys to pressure Tiredniece.

I'd try to take a light approach. Laugh at the absurdity..

What? Gosh No! I live 5 HOURS away! No I can't come stay.

Aunt will have to go to reahb or hire a fulltime aide.

Let's all lighten the mood & sing along.

"They tried to make me go to Rehab..
But I said no no no"
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JoAnn29 Jul 2023
I like that! Kind of turn it back on them.
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Your cousin asked. You answered.

You have valid reasons for not doing this. You live at a distance and you work. There is danger in caring for someone who has just had surgery who doesn't listen to you.

If she falls, will she/they blame you?

In my family, we have this "thing"; whenever we ask a favor of one another, we preface it with "it's totally fine to say no". It's a nice touch.

There are emergencies in life; this is not one of them.
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Beatty Jul 2023
Respectful. Lovely.

There is one in DH's lot that uses that preface "totally fine to say no" BUT then argues, conjoles, picks apart any reason to decline etc.

I learnt to say No then leave silence quite quickly.

This week was busy trying to twist my DH's arm to change his plans so didn’t have to change her own. (A fail btw).
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Her not wanting rehab does not equate to your needing to provide care at home

"If wishes were horses then beggars would ride".
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Tell her lots of people either go to rehab or book a short stay in assisted living after getting new knees or hips.
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Tiredniece23 Jul 2023
Stubborn aunt doesn't want rehab.
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“ I told her to tell my aunt to expand the caregiver’s hours so that she has someone there, since no one can stay . She said she will check with her and get back to me .”

You told your cousin “No”. There is no reason for your cousin to get back to you on this issue. The aunt needs to find another solution . If there is a POA and the aunt can’t make decisions , then aunt goes to rehab , gets hired help in or she doesn’t get her surgery .
If I was you I would not be POA for this woman .
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"Her neighbor told me.."

Well meaning neighbours.. 🤔
Being a good neighbour means looking out for vulnerable neighbours.. but also staying on their side of the fence.

Raising concerns with a neighbour's family is one thing.

Being judgemental or telling that family what to do is another.

Bottom line is this:
Aunt is in charge of her own affairs - unless she is legally/medically deemed incompetant - then the springing POA becomes active.

If that point is reached, the POA can take advice from the medical team (who declared the POA is now active) to decide on such matters like rehab/respite/supported care options & sign for Aunt.

Holding POA does NOT means thr POA must provide the hands-on care themself.

I think Aunt's neighbours & local cousins have their right to their concerns, they may mean well, but it appears they don't understand how a springing POA works.

It is immoral & illegal to strip people's rights away without proper legal authority.

Aunt decides for herself - makes decisions, wise or poor. End of.
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Isthisrealyreal Jul 2023
This!
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I bet cousin expects you to do it because you went to stay with her for a week once before. You must have been the only one willing at that time to do that. No other family members will do it.

You've explained to cousin why you can't and won't do it. No further explanation necessary.

Aunt will have to agree to either rehab or an increase in caregiving hours.
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Tiredniece23 Jul 2023
Yep. I knew they would expect it of me again. A week with her fussing at me, a not letting me help was wat too much. I even went to see her a few more times after, and it was the same. This time, I told cousin no. I will not do a week with her again, and I dared her, and everyone else to try stat a week with her. Thank you.
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No. You do you. Neither aunt nor cousin is your responsibility.

Refusing rehab is a big mistake and could result in her not being "independent" (the big self-foolery) afterward. Refusing rehab is yet another curve in the downward spiral.
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Yes, your cousins that are there need to call the surgeons office and tell them no one in the family can be there for after care. Two out of 3 cousins work, one being 5 hours away. The other has a family to care for. That she will need to go to rehab and maybe have in home care when she returns home. If one of them won't do it you need to.

This happens alot where an elder will say they have help when they return home. "Oh yes, my niece will be there 24/7" Niece shows up to take Aunt home and finds she is designated caregiver. (Discharge does not follow up to make sure that person has agreed to do care) The person picking another up is taking on the responsibilty of care. No help once you take that person off of Hospital property. So make sure that cousins ask what has been set up for her care. They are not to take her home if propper care has not been set up. Its an unsafe discharge. If she refuses Rehab, make discharge aware that there is no one to care for her. They are not to be giving out ur phone# either. You r not POA yet and hopefully will be stepping down.

Its nice that your Aunt has nieces and maybe they help when they can, but none of you should feel you need to care for her. As a single woman with no children, she needs to look into how she can care for herself. Finding resources to help her. Office of Aging can get her started.
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I say that you stick to doing your guns and kindly say NO WAY!! I have made way too many mistakes bowing down to guilt and feelings of obligation that have now completely turned my world upside down. Thank God it was only for 15 months and not 15 years. Time and time again, I let my mother manipulate me into doing something I didn't want to do. You came to this site for answers as I did. I found support and a backbone to stick up for myself and I will never back down again. Please don't do something out of guilt or obligation or whatever other weird family dynamic that "others" place on you. Just say no.
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