Caring For Aging Parents Support Group
Caring for aging parents can be a difficul time as we become the caretakers for our parents. This broad responsibility can encompass such services as assisted living, adult day care, long term care, nursing homes, hospice care, and in-home care. Whether you have just started caring for your parents or just need a place to talk, we're here.
This is going to be a long, but I could really use some advice.
My mom is 73 years old, but she has really slowed down these past 6-9 months. She has a tremor in one of her hands and in one of her legs. I also worry she has dementia because she is forgetful and sometimes seems to think I am somebody else. She is also severely depressed and stays in bed most of the day. Lately, I think she is losing it. She sees things that are not there. I would attribute it to her poor eyesight (she needs glasses), but it's going way beyond that. She claims to see a man's face on her current, but talks about him and to him like he is a real man.
The problem is she is terrified of the doctor and refuses to go. She says there is nothing wrong, but I know she is terrified of hearing bad news. My therapist has been urging me to call aging and adult services in our state because I have nobody else to help me with my mom. Aging and adult services can do an in home assessment and apparently can even assess her for dementia in home. They could also provide a number of other services including mental health care at home and helping us pay for some safety measures. We don't even have a railing on the stairs for her to hold onto.
I told my mom I'd like to have someone come in to have her evaluated, but she nearly pitched a fit. She said I need to be evaluated and nothing is wrong with her. She does not want this at all.
My question is do I call aging and adult services to have her evaluated despite her protests? I am afraid if I do she will just refuse to cooperate or lie to them to make it seem like everything is fine with her when it's not.
My mom is 73 years old, but she has really slowed down these past 6-9 months. She has a tremor in one of her hands and in one of her legs. I also worry she has dementia because she is forgetful and sometimes seems to think I am somebody else. She is also severely depressed and stays in bed most of the day. Lately, I think she is losing it. She sees things that are not there. I would attribute it to her poor eyesight (she needs glasses), but it's going way beyond that. She claims to see a man's face on her current, but talks about him and to him like he is a real man.
The problem is she is terrified of the doctor and refuses to go. She says there is nothing wrong, but I know she is terrified of hearing bad news. My therapist has been urging me to call aging and adult services in our state because I have nobody else to help me with my mom. Aging and adult services can do an in home assessment and apparently can even assess her for dementia in home. They could also provide a number of other services including mental health care at home and helping us pay for some safety measures. We don't even have a railing on the stairs for her to hold onto.
I told my mom I'd like to have someone come in to have her evaluated, but she nearly pitched a fit. She said I need to be evaluated and nothing is wrong with her. She does not want this at all.
My question is do I call aging and adult services to have her evaluated despite her protests? I am afraid if I do she will just refuse to cooperate or lie to them to make it seem like everything is fine with her when it's not.
I agree with TroJan, make the call. Give them the background you gave us, you can even print up what you wrote and let them read it.
Sometimes we need to go against our parent's wishes, especially when they are not in the right mind to make decisions, or when WE need more information so that we know how best to navigate all their medical issues.