The weekends or days off are the worst because mom just sits and gets so bored.
and i realized how much i miss having a life. I was shocked at my reaction and couldn't decide if i was crying because hearing Chicago live brought back such great memories of my youth, or if it was because it was the first time in forever that i was out enjoying life without having my mom strapped to me. Two months ago my brother treated me and a friend to an outdoor concert (Chicago) at a local jazz festival and another friend came over and sat with mom at the house. My days off are not really days off because i am caring for her. She has some serious heart issues and is really slowing down. I am extremely conscientious about following doctors orders and trying to do everything i can to keep her healthy. when and where and how they are going to die. age and decline more each day and wonder when it's going to happen. It is stressful and sad to watch your parent turn into your child. Some people liken caretaking to parenting and i guess in some ways you could say it is, but in many ways, that only a caregiver could understand, it is NOT. In the evenings it is usually after 8pm when i'm through cleaning up the dishes and then i have barely an hour before i have to start getting her ready for bed. I am too drained to worry about myself, so I end up throwing on the first thing i can find, put my glasses on instead of my contacts, no makeup, and off to work I go as soon as her daycare bus comes and gets her. washed, dressed, well fed, pills taken (and i have to keep at her to eat and take pills or she has a tendency to sit and stare, or fall asleep lately). My mornings are devoted to getting mom ready. I am committed to caring for her to the end. If i were not in the picture my brother would have put mom in a nursing home. My brother and sis-in-law do help slightly, but are not able to do what i do. I am a nursemaid to a 96 year old while the rest of my family and friends have wonderful fulfilling lives and my life is passing me by. But as time goes on i am wondering how much longer i can continue this without losing my mind.
So, all in all, we have a great arrangement. She goes to a wonderful adult day care facility during the weekdays while i am at work. We use a wheel chair outside of the house. She can still (barely) ambulate through the house on a walker but often times she poops out and ends up sitting on it and i push her to the bathroom or wherever she is going. She does have some major short term memory loss and a little dementia. I know it could be worse, she could be cantankerous and demanding, or have severe dementia. She is very sweet, cooperative and appreciative and i love her dearly.
#IM LOSING MY MIND FULL#
I am single, own a home and have a full time job in addition to caring for my mom. She has lived with me for most of that time. II have been taking care of my 96 year old mom for the past 5 years.
0 kommentar(er)
