Three of four siblings had a meeting this morning about their mom's care. They feel her needs are not met and want to return her to our house.
The Medicaid Waiver would pick up some in home care. One has a child at community college and they want mom to pay her the just over $1,400 in Social Security to pick up night shifts. Brother in law in town will take her every other weekend and stay at the house 2 nights a week. The sibling in the military cannot help but is willing to give $100 a week for food and incidentials.
I think it is a bad idea. What do you think?
There is so many red flags, just be honest, say no, you have every right. Siblings meeting to decide about your future, for how long ? All you need to do is step aside.
Is this some attempt to save money by damping all on you?
So what if you are selfish? Perhaps realistic?
The realistic caregiver, in attempt to control her own life lets others make decision when they benefit her.
That means everything is done to minimize her work.
Arrangements are made to cover situations, call it plan A and B. Housework, respite care for facility so caregiver can take vacations. Day programs, care workers, family members and friends.
That is me, I get help, yet, I am a good caregiver, because in many ways balance is maintained.
It is my husband’s responsibility to maintain that.
I am not naive, there will be more needs, as all diseases progress, but self preservation is my priority, selfish, yes!
It comes, I believe from certain dynamics in marriage, as our second marriage was always based on equality.
Can you really say your husband treats you as equal, if he allows his siblings to interfere in your life?
It sounds as though you are already the key linchpin propping up the whole situation, and wishful thinking is more common than rational thought in all directions. I’m sure you can see why outsiders think that getting out of it is your best (only?) option, but it isn’t always that easy.
What do you think is the best way for you to cope? If you can tell us, perhaps we can make more useful suggestions. Best wishes to WonderWoman.
This faith based facility is appalling simply for the fact that they are not taking proper care of MIL. It sounds like an unlicensed hell hole where seniors medical needs are being neglected.
Since none of us know everything about your situation you may be feeling piled up on but people can only reply based on what you posted and cant be expected to know things you didnt share.
I suspect you are feeling trapped and scared you are going to be forced by DH and siblings to take mom into your home. That it will happen regardless of how it will affect you. I would feel the same way.
I am very sorry about the pressure and stress you are under must be overwhelming.
The reason why I think it is a bad idea is because you are assuming that everyone will happily do their part. Initially, everyone may. However, 1400 a month does not pay very much for night shifts. Brother in law in town will take her every other weekend and weekdays....until he finds out how disruptive this is to his current routine. Sibling in the military will give $100 a week for food and incidentals, until they find out how much disposable income they have left over.
...which will leave you taking care of MIL all of your time. There is your housework, your electricity, your security in opening up your house to a caregiver, all which is out-of-pocket and can cause emotional distress.
The real question is "what kind of daily care will your MIL need" The idea of a caregiver is great until they don't show up or cannot find a substitute or they do "odd" stuff.
On the other hand, some people find caregiving to be extremely rewarding so in that case, giving care to a relative is very satisfying.
That right there is why it’s a bad idea.
Do you have a friend or relative that you stay with? Sounds like your H is onboard with this ridiculous and unrealistic plan...for YOU. Sounds like it will all work out for all of THEM (including your H), because YOU are really the plan.
Flighty niece isn't going to work out, and you know it.
So now you know the feelings from this group. What do you think? WILL you refuse to be the caregiving solution for this selfish family?
I seem to recall and incident in which he reacted quite physically to you for calling the ombudsman.
Is this marriage working out for you?
Consider visiting a divorce lawyer to discuss what you could expect in terms of division of assets. I let my bullying ex-husband cow me for years with the idea that I'd lose everything in a divorce. The opposite turned out to be true.
1. WHAT constitutes night? 7pm - 7am? 11pm-11am? What are the hours? M-F, S-S? How many nights a month?
2. What are her responsibilities? Is she bathing? Feeding? Housework? Medications?
3. Is she allowed to sleep? If so, is this person a light sleeper? Does she herself sleep like the dead and will she wake up if the LO wakes up and needs her? (P.S. My college kids sleep like the dead...you have to SHAKE them awake)
4. When will she be allowed to do her homework? Exams? Study? What about when her class schedule changes and she now has a night class? Who will cover that night? What about if she has an early morning lab and has to leave early?
5. When does she get a night off? Who covers that?
6. She is NINETEEN! When does she get to be a teenager? She is selling her soul as young person for $1400 a month because the other adults in the family aren't stepping in to take responsibility here.
7. What happens in an emergency? Is she responsible for transporting to the ER and staying with them, providing all medical information - does she have the authority to allow medical treatment in emergency or would she? Is she authorized to transport to the hospital in lieu of an ambulance?
All things to think about if this goes any further.
My girls are what I consider pretty mature. But I would never ask this of them at this stage. It is a lot and they are a few years older than your niece. That probably sounds like a lot of money to her but I doubt she realizes what it will cost her to earn it.
Neither should YOU be the only one taking responsibility either. There has to be a workable solution here that doesn't involve one person sacrificing their lives to make this happen.
You have got to extricate yourself from this. As long as you are giving them the solution - YOU...they are never going to find another solution. You are always going to be the solution.
And everybody *is* prepared to do their bit, as follows:
It's DH's house, it's his mother, he's offering her a home. [Only he isn't there. Because he has to work, and work takes him out of town. Fallback primary caregiver - OP].
Sibling 1 will take MIL to all her doctor's appointments. [Except when she can't, for undeniably good reasons. Fallback driver and escort - OP].
Niece will stay in the home overnight during the week and cover the night shift. [Except when she has assignments, or exams, or a chance of work experience, or - for heaven's sake, the kid's only 19, it's fair enough - a party to go to. Fallback night shift cover - OP].
Sibling 2 will cover 2 nights a week, and have MIL to stay at his home at the weekends. [Except when he can't, because he has other commitments or, fair enough again, has done 3 weekends on the trot and it's been exhausting and they really all need a break. Fallback weekend cover - OP].
Medicaid will supply 45 hours of caregiver support during the week. That does sound generous, and will in theory allow the OP enough "free time" to hold down her job. [And when there aren't 45 hours' worth of real life caregivers to supply? When they're ill, or they've torn a knee ligament, or they've taken jobs elsewhere, or they're late, or the OP is asked to attend a meeting that overruns, and "we just don't have the capacity, we just can't get the staff"? - Fallback caregiver - OP].
Overseas sibling will contribute $100 a week towards MIL's living costs. Well, that's very nice of him and probably as much as he can possibly do. And how does that translate into more than 24 hours a day for the OP? It doesn't.
The fact is that although there is no need to doubt anyone's sincerity or commitment, reality WILL intrude. And every single time it intrudes, it will land hard on the OP.
The plan is Not Fair BS.
”non profit ministry” is the facility? Are there religious issues here that play a part? Is/was she there because of the ministry affiliation
or
Is $ an issue for being placed in a better care facility?
The whole thing sounds like a big ‘ol NOPE to me
the we hate you song would’ve been the final straw.
you don’t want to argue in front of MIL? Wheel her ass into another room and SAY SOMETHING, or ask them to step outside to chat, then lock the door
you’re not this family’s slave
again
youre not this family’s slave
the niece isn’t either, I’m guessing she’s not thrilled. But $1400 a month to sleep, which I assume is the goal, hey maybe she’s fine. Sounds like she’s being told to do this.
My husband has been home since Wednesday trying to help sort it out. He received some messages from the administrator again today. Her meds are missing again and the $50 fee. He went there and came home in a rage and is not speaking except to say tomorrow we are going there to make a list of all missing items. He doesn't know, he does not shop. He decided to put a new roof on the garage, I do not push matters at this point.
I think he needs to give up POA and let the state figure it out.