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She is 83 and has dementia, but we’ve made it this far with me doing all her shopping, caring for her home, paying her bills, and bringing her freshly made food for every dinner. My sister and I also fully support her financially. We drive her to doc appts and haircuts. She has always disliked people in general, and doesn’t want to speak to anyone besides my sister and me. She hasn’t had so much as a meal with anyone else in 20 years. Being her everything has been an incredible burden to us both, made even harder by her being very unpleasant.


in the last few years she has been getting false memories of conversations in her head. She then takes to the phone to complain about all these imagined horrible people. Yesterday she wanted me to call the post office because her mailman accused her of coming onto her. Of course this didn’t happen in any remote way, but the moment she thinks it up it’s reality to her. She almost lost her saint of a hair dresser, who cuts her hair every three weeks for $15 (!), because she kept accusing her of stealing her watch. This continues even after I found it in her trash (“she must’ve brought it over here and put it in the trash!”).


As you can probably tell from


this rambling writing, I am almost at the end of my rope!


She can’t live with me or my sister, it would destroy our mental health. But she refuses to talk about having other help come in, and of course assisted living is out of the question as far as she is concerned. When the issue is eventually forced, it will be an awful confrontation.. I don’t know what to do! Thanks for letting me vent.

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She is no longer safe.
She is out of funds.
She is being enabled by you and your sister to live unsafely.
You are wearing yourselves out and you are spending money you will need badly for your own elder years.

How does the above make any sense.
I recognize your mother doesn't want placement.
No one wants placement. I am 81. She has my every sympathy, but to think I would destroy my own daughter best years of freedom from the care of children and elders, to spend in her own retirement with her hubby doing the things they have waited a lifetime to do? That would destroy me.

I recommend you and your sister work now on placement and on diagnosis so you can do so.
It it time to have the hard discussion with your mother.
If she cannot any longer participate in this difficult discussion it may be time to call APS and let the state handle this.
Unless you are up for another decade of this, with increasing problems, falls, fires, wanderings.
Only you two can make this decision and I am thankful you have one another to lean on one.

First discuss with Sis and with your respective support systems.
Then plan a way forward. Or plan to stay mired where you are.
I am so dreadfully sorry. Not everything has a good fix.
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Yadayadayada64 Jan 21, 2024
Thank you so much for this valuable perspective. You sound like a person of generous spirit.
I agree with with every word, including that we are enabling her to be unsafe! Sometimes I can’t believe this is me. As you say, no easy answers. (And you are correct that my sister and I are incredibly lucky to have each other. Life can be funny, our closeness was forged very early as we leaned on each other to deal with our eradic mom, since being young kids. My sister will always be something I can be wholly thankful for from my mom.)
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There is a lot of pertinent info in your profile that is too much to post here so I recommend readers look there first before commenting.

Need to start with practical questions that affect your ability to do anything:

Who is your Mom's PoA? Is anyone? Really need to know the answer to this question.

IF your Mom has a PoA, this person needs to read the document to see what is required to activate the authority. Often it is 1 or 2 medical diagnosis of impairment. This may be trickier than it sounds if your Mom is not cooperative. One cannot easily force an uncooperative person to do something they resist, even if you have the legal authority to do so.

You must stop trying to convince her to go to AL. She has dementia, which robs people of their ability to use reason, logic, good judgment, and have empathy for others who are running themselves ragged trying to help them. Literally do not bring it up to her anymore, or any other topic that just results in arguments. Paranoia is an early behavioral feature of dementia (accusing people of stealing).

STOP paying for anything for her. You are robbing yourselves, your spouses and your children.

If there is no PoA for your Mom, here are your options:

- contact social services to tell them she has no PoA and resists help. This may lead to the county acquiring guardianship for her. This is what you want. Been there, done that with a family member. She may qualify for some in-home services but she may shoo them away and eventually it won't be enough. Placement is imminent.

- you go to her house and call 911 telling the EMTs that she is confused and not herself and that she may have a UTI and is resisting a trip to the Urgent Care. This stategy may get her into the ER to indeed check for a UTI (which is treatable). At this point you request to speak to a social worker and explain that your Mom is an unsafe discharge. Do not take her back home even if the hospital promises to help you. They say this to get them out of there. The help never happens.

If your Mom has a PoA, this person will then need to figure out how to pay for the MC (your Mom may be beyond AL at this point). The PoA will need to talk to an elder law attorney or estate planner or a Medicaid Planner for your Mom's home state. FYI Medicaid is individual to each state which have their own rules. Medicaid in most states only pays for LTC, which is medically assessed by a doctor. THen the person has to qualify financially.

Keep coming back here and asking more questions. There is lots to know but lots we can help you with!
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Yadayadayada64 Jan 21, 2024
My goodness you are incredibly knowledgeable! You’re lucky I don’t know you personally or I would prob drive you nuts with questions.
my sister and I have PoA. I have a very hard time picturing forcing her to do something she absolutely does not want. But I know something will happen sooner rather than later to force the issue.
About the finances, I don’t want to sound like a martyr. My sister and I have both been fortunate enough that care to this point has been doable with our own kids not having to sacrifice. But paying for assisted living in a scary, different story. My wishing she would go and the worry of paying for it are def a paradox to me.
I sincerely thank you for your well-thought out answer, it is very helpful! Also helpful to me to feel heard. You have done something good for me today.
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If your mom never remarried or if she did and is now a widow, she is entitled to collect against your dad's social security. (With some other criteria that you will find out when you call or go to www.SSA.gov, if it applies to her situation)

I did a 3 way call with my mom and social security administration and got her set up. I called by myself prior and got the list of items that needed submitting for her to collect against my dad's SS. If memory serves I needed both their social security numbers, both their birth dates, the filed divorce decree and the marriage certificate. The divorce decree and marriage license was ordered thru vital records in the state capital where they took place, small fee involved and the rest from them.

Because my mom remarried and she was widowed I needed her 2nd husband's information to verify he was dead.

It was a bit time consuming but, I needed to know that she was getting enough monthly income to live and it was more then worth the time to have her collecting benefits she was entitled to under the law. I refused to give her any support because of her choices but, I needed to do what I could to ensure she could pay her bills and eat.

Now a shout out to tacy0122, an old poster that gave me this information, because I thought my mom was not eligible for my dad's benefit because of remarriage.

I would recommend that you look into facilities based on medicaid before you do this because my mom made to much money getting my dad's SS to qualify for medicaid. Thank God that she never needed a facility or it would have been challenging. Since your mom is in need of a facility, please check the requirements for medicaid to avoid my potential situation.
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Yadayadayada64 Jan 22, 2024
Thanks for the info, I appreciate your time and knowledge in answering. My dad gave our mom literally every penny he had when they divorced to try and help us help her. And he contributed what he could for several years after that. That was after our mom spent them practically into bankruptcy. Whatever comes, he’s done his part.
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Mom is not safe at home as you know . She will never agree to go to a facility.
Options:

1) Get her to the ER and don’t take her out as described by Geaton777.
2) Call APS.
3) Call your local County Area of Aging .
They will send a social worker to the house to do a needs assessment .

You should tell anyone helping you that you can not pay for her care, not can you take care of her or live with her .

My advice is for you and your sister to go to a lawyer and officially give up POA first, so when Mom is either in the hospital or APS or Agency of Aging get involved they will have the government appoint a guardian . This will make it their problem to find mom a place to live.
You can not pay for Mom to be in memory care . You have done more than enough already .

Furthermore , Medicaid in most states will only pay for SNF ( skilled nursing facility , which Mom would have to qualify for medically ). If she only needs Assisted living or memory care Medicaid may not pay depending on your state Medicaid program . This is how families get stuck taking care of elderly people who don’t have money .

Again , give up POA , then get the ball rolling to get her placed . And get back to taking care of yourself.
Good Luck .
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Geaton777 Jan 23, 2024
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From what you describe, your Mother stopped being able to live alone a long time ago.

PS You can choose to continue to wait until she wants to discuss hiring extra home help or moving into a Care Home.

Or change your mind.
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If your Mom is declared incompetent to make informed decisions and you are her POA you can place her. Its not what she wants, its what she needs. What u need. You are aging too. Your now a Senior. You can not care for all these people.

Supporting Mom was your Dads duty even when divorced. They were married a number of years and she should have asked for alimony and part of any pension he may have had. Seems she was capable of working and she should have until she was 66 when she would get 100% of her SS. There are low income apts. Help with utilities. You should have never supported her. You enabled her. Now, you are running out of energy.

If Mom winds up in a hospital, tell them she needs to go to a NH upon discharge. Then start the Medicaid process if she has no money. Tell the SW you can no longer care for her. Better if she goes to Rehab. Where I live Rehab is in same building as LTC, easy transition. When she is discharged from Rehab she goes right to LTC. If u do not want her living with you, this decision will need to be made sooner or later. Since your posting here, I would say sooner.
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Kristen2037 Jan 26, 2024
Agree with this! She needs memory care in a SNF, not AL. If she has an event like a fall, she goes to ER. You tell them she’s NOT SAFE to be home alone. She’s transferred to a rehab and then easy transition from the rehab to MC as it’s usually the same building/facility. You work with an elder attorney to apply for Medicaid on her behalf.

I would consult with an elder attorney in the meantime, you need advice on the best way to proceed from an expert. But she’s likely no longer safe in her environment and it will only get worse.

Please talk to a lawyer asap. Sending love.
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"It's almost too much for me.."

Take a day off.
Take time to think about it.
Ask your Sister to think about it too.
Have coffee or a meal with your Sister & discuss.

What will *too much* look like?

This is hard decision & there are no right answers. Each individual & family have their own capabilities & limitations. Own blend of personalities too.

Be honest. Really LOOK at the picture. I'll add some medico lingo..

This *Care Plan* for your Mother, ideally needs to work for ALL of you in the plan.

It's not a nice word, but *Burden* is what it becomes when the needs get too much.

*Caregiver Burden* leads to *Caregiver Burnout*

Finding out WHERE you are is #1.

Sailing along OK?
Or starting to sink?
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Go with her to her PCP appointment ( make new appointment if necessary). Request the PCP to provide you with a " level of care needs assessment" on your mother. This will identify what she can and cannot do and, also point out safety concerns etc. this assessment is used to determine best care options for patients and, the PCP can then refer you to a Social Services professional, such as a licensed SW, who can assist you both with looking at options for her safety and care needs; this will include financial considerations , her wishes vs safety, your wishes and availability etc etc ...
It sounds like from your description that for safety reasons alone, she already needs most likely 24/7 care either in the home or placement; but, the " level of care needs assessment" will give direction to a difficult situation that many many folks face. Practice self care for yourself including support counseling.....
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I am in almost the same position, except my sisters live up north. Have had enough of my mother’s little games and refusal to do what she needs per PT. Told my one sister she can take family leave from work for a month and deal with mom and her nonsense. She supposed to have early dementia but I know her mind games……one day she is good, next day can’t do anything……BS!
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There is a point at which your mother does not get to choose.
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Bunnymomjulie Jan 26, 2024
That is what happened to me, though I am the only child and second person on the accounts since my dad died. I am also PoA for medical and executor of the will. I simply visited the place, had a meeting with the general manager and followed all the steps to get her in. She was none the wiser. Took her back to the PCP and had her mini mental repeated, and the paperwork done. Took her to the facility's nurse to have further testing done. No pushback from her at all, but she would still say, this is a place where people live. I don't want to live here.
BUT this is where I learned to tell her that she has tested moderate to severe dementia, the doctor says you can no longer live alone, we need to think about this now. And I stuck to my guns.
She was so far gone, when I had to decide what furniture would be moved, I just told her I was cleaning, clearing a path, because all these piles are unsafe for you. She was fine with it.
When the day came to take her in, I enlisted my cousin, and we took her to lunch. The movers met my husband and son and got her furniture. Then when the coast was clear we took her over there and told her it was her therapy. Then we became task oriented and set up her room while my cousin sat with her. It was the hardest day, but she agreed to stay. We didn't give her a choice really. The doctor said she needed to stay there to be safe. We said goodbye and turned around and left.
She has since been placed on melatonin for sleep and very low dose Zoloft to calm her down. She had exit seeking and a fall in the beginning, but none since. She is adjusting. She now walks with a walker, has PT for walking and balance, had a hair appt, sees a podiatrist and dental hygienist. She participates in all the activities. It is so much more than I could handle, and she is more awake and she is happy and smiling.
She has been there just over 3 months.
It is the hardest thing ever to do besides burying a parent, but it is what has to be done when you reach that point that you can't do it alone anymore.
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Does your mom have mental health counseling? Perhaps if she had an outlet it might help. It is possible to utilize tele-health with caregivers present, it is covered by insurances, etc.

Everyone needs respite, even your mom.

Maybe bring in caregivers while you are there so she could get used to them. That would be good because you know how she “likes things” and it won’t leave things for the imagination of the care givers. Gradually back out of the picture as much as possible. At the very least it will might make the segue in her care easier.

When she does first transition visit often, even if it’s only a popcorn visit. Keep in contact via phone, while she’s able to appreciate it. There are so many innovative new technologies to keep connected.

Outside time is so important whenever possible!!!! Distraction things she likes to do. Whatever it takes, knitting, crochet, cards. Reassuring pats, little hugs, cute little presents for no reason. I’m sure you do this, juts a reminder for others that might be reading this.

You, wonderful family, are to be applauded for your care and generosity. So many seniors are not so lucky.
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I would say it's past time. Start shopping for places, maybe see an eldercare attorney.
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There is no asking or reasoning with someone with dementia. It is a relief to hear that you have already recognized that she cannot move in with you. Many folks let guilt run the show and move their parents in knowing full well that they don't want it and can't handle it and then they write in to forums like this asking how they can get their parent out of their home.

I remember this paranoia stage all too well and it was ugly. My mom would call me at work and say that kids were stealing her mail and shining lasers into her bedroom at night or that her neighbors were stealing things from her garage or that a man came into her house, gave her a pill and she woke up in her bed. None of that happened. I was on the brink of a nervous breakdown dealing with the craziness of it all and managing her life on top of it while working full time.

I think you and your sister already know that you're going to have to place your mom and it doesn't sound like she's going to go down easy. Make sure when shopping for the right facility that you find one that has stages....meaning assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, hospice. It is much easier to move her within one facility than trying to find three different facilities and navigating those moves.

If it were me and I was dealing with your moms temperament, I wouldn't even entertain the idea of trying to bring people into her home for her care. She is not going to let them in and if they do get in, she is going to fight them over everything and then when the caregivers don't want to deal with your mom any more and they start calling in and not showing up, you and your sister are back to doing it. I would skip all of that drama and place her. That won't end all of your problems but it will contain them in one place with people that are used to dealing with people in your moms condition.

This is not going to be easy. I wish you and your sister all the luck and patience in the world!
Take care.
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fluffy1966 Jan 26, 2024
Love what you said, James: "not even entertain the idea of trying to bring people into her home for her care". Agree, skip the drama and the attempts for coordination for care at home: Place her. First: Advice from Elder Care Attorney for both sisters, to make sure that they are doing everything properly and legally.
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Mom is never going to consent to do things differently, that conversation is beyond her ability to reason now. And you are now at the end of your rope, no fault of yours, it’s just time for a new plan, preferably one that leaves your finances intact. Please know my mother received care in a nursing home that quickly progressed to using Medicaid, and no matter how the bill was paid, her care remained compassionate and competent throughout. Medicaid doesn’t always mean bad things and it’s important to guard your own financial future
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All of the behaviors of your mom are typical of a dementia person. So don't feel bad. My dementia mom just passed away this week from brain bleeds. I took care of her the past 7 years. I was initially embarrassed of all of her abnormal behaviors. But I learned that health professionals know all about these types of behaviors. They usually sympathized with the caregivers. If they don't know, explain it to them. Caring for the dementia person requires a lot of love, dedication and time. When you have a certain level of love for your parents, it forces you to sacrifice and learn ways to get around the stress and the burden, like you are doing now getting advice and help instead of putting her in the nursing home.

Dememtia people are generally scared of strangers or new places. Talking about moving out to a newer place will not be a good topic for them. In my case, I sacrificed myself to keep my mom home as I know she will not make it in the nursing homes. I utilized all the resources the state has. She qualified for low income healthcare. She got 50hrs/wk (yes, per week, not per month) of in-home services. This helped me tremendously to release the stress I need.

Also, I was lucky enough to obtain her a housing subsidized apartment unit next to me. I have all the cameras to watch her inside her apartment unit from my unit when her aides are not around with her started from when she was still much stronger walking around the house until she become chair-bound. Dementia people talk a lot of nonsense, and it can elevate your stress level for the caregivers. That's why I utilized more than one aides on these total large number of hours of help. Learn to put up or ignore this stress from your mom. The fact I don't have to be in her apartment and still be able to care for and watch her, it's a great setup. I used technology to help me out with all of these. Camera alert, door bell/alarm alert, room temperature alert, movement alert, even light on/off all were WiFied in to my phone. I controlled everything in her apartment with my phone. Like I said that love will forces you to figure out things to keep your parents home with the least amount of stress on you.

It's not easy, but hang in there. I'll talk with you later...
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You cannot 'talk' to / discuss moving with a person inflicted with dementia.
You have to do what you need to do - for you - and her.

Make the arrangements that are necessary.
Tell her she is going for a ride or out to lunch.

The goal is to keep her calm.
However, dementia is brain chemistry / cognitive changes and you need to 'work with' / relate to a person where they are NOW. It is difficult to realize that they are not the person they used to be - communication is different. Dementia is an entirely new language.

You do what you need to do.

Otherwise, you continue to exhaust yourself into total burnout.
Do not do this to yourself. Taking care of you - and her - is a very loving action and decision. Keep her comfortable and calm.

Gena / Touch Matters
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Geaton and Alva have delivered options and advice that can not be improved upon. You and you sister share POA. Go together to a good Elder Law attorney, explain that you both no longer can pay for mother. Explain her refusal to cooperate is a huge issue. The attorney will advise you how to proceed, and it may mean both of you giving up Power of Attorney. Someone mentioned "Give up on in home care" and that's terrific advice. It's only postponing the inevitable. Your mother will need to be placed. Social Services will likely need to be involved, Adult protective services. Ask the Elder Law attorney for the appropriate steps to follow to extricate both you and your sister from both power and consequences of your mother's treatment and placement, going forward. This must be done legally: you need advice, and you and your sister can write down "steps to take and in what order". Thanks be to God that you have each other as this situation has the potential to become very ugly with your Mom. Gain wisdom from an Attorney, along with 'steps' that allow you both to extricate yourselves. Stop financially enabling an unsafe living situation which will only get much worse. You and that dear sister know that the "confrontation ahead will be awful". I predict that it will be. What might be very beneficial now would be for the both of you to visit individually or together: a skilled Therapist who is adept in supporting Adult Children who have now come to the end of their ropes with an all-consuming Narcissistic parent who now has dementia. We will all be thinking of you and sister, and hoping that you share your journey. Come back for support, YadaYada!
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It's a 'talk' you will NEVER get through to them.

My DH and his sibs are FINALLY placing their mom. They aren't 'asking her' if it's OK with her, they are TELLING her they can no longer sustain her.

Yes, she's going to be furious, but they are holding tight to their choice.

I imagine that the actual day they move her, she will have to be highly sedated and it's going to be a nightmare, but the last year sure hasn't been any picnic.

As with small kids--you don't ASK them--you TELL them.
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My story is very similar, minus help from a sibling, but also minus making dinner every night, and minus paying her bills (although I did help her a little bit financially because she said she was broke).

This started just before Covid, with my husband or I going about 5 days a week, and escalated to me being there 24/7 when she came home from a rehab on hospice and I believed she was dying (5 months ago).

Since then I hired daytime help, then nighttime help, then live in M-F help. And now I visit twice a week on weekdays, and spend a half day, a full night and a full day on the weekend. Sometimes someone else will help for part of the weekend.

The reason I’m sharing all of this is to say that once you get burned out there’s no going back. I am facing medical issues of my own now. You would think I’d be relieved to have a M-F live in. But I’m not. Every time I go over I feel just as burnt as when I was there 24/7. I let it go on too long. And like your mom, it’s not so much the work (shopping, bills, managing meds), it’s the fact that she’s never happy.

You're gotten good advice. Don’t put it off too long. If you’re like me you’ll find care for her and then barely be able to bring yourself to visit. I was supposed to have already left to go over today, but I’m here on the computer. It’s just soul sucking and it’s a lot to recover from.

My journey won’t be over until she passes, because even if I get her into LTC she’s still going to need me to file for Medicaid, sell her house and of course I will get constant calls from the facility, just like when she was in rehab. Please save yourself. You’ve done the best you can and more. As much as we love our mothers, we cannot give up our lives for them.
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JuliaH Jan 26, 2024
Good advice and I hear you. Fact is when they pass you feel very empty. I went through all that you described and now to complete her passing, it's tax time. As you stated, it never ends. Burn out is a given due to emotional attachment and it's a process we undergo unconditionally. Your advice is sound but we do this,like the rest of the forum, because we care. You're right it's time for more care but it seems they are supporting her financially and that's another thing.
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There is no reason why she should not be able to stay in her own home and get some additional in home care. That is a far better option than what so many do these days and try to force them into a nursing home where the abuse and neglect is off the charts!

There are options for in home care that even include family as caregivers. This is usually a good option for those struggling to care for someone, but could use some additional financial help in doing so. We have a program here called IRIS that is wonderful. There should be familiar options in all states. Not all include family as caregivers. I think they should, but you can check around to see what your state offers.
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lkdrymom Jan 26, 2024
One of the reasons is she is not supporting herself, she is allowing her daughters to support her.
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I may be in the minority but I truly believe that a person with dementia should not be living alone.
You never know what will happen at any given moment. And changes/declines can happen literally over night.
Forgetting to turn the water off, forgetting the stove. Forgetting you put papers in the oven to "keep them safe" then turning the oven on. Turning the furnace off...or on. Going out to get the mail and getting lost. Inviting the "representative from the gas company" in to "look at the meter".
The fact that you are caring for her DAILY is putting undue burden on you and your family.
At this point there are 3 "logical" options.
1. SHE pays for caregivers that will care for her. This takes some burden off your shoulders..
2. She moves into Memory Care so that she has the level of care that she needs when she needs it.
3. (and this is the kicker) She moves in with you and your family...or you and your family move in with her. this is probably the least desirable option.

Is anyone POA? With the diagnosis of dementia the POA is the one that makes the decision. I am sure the doctor would confirm that she should not be living alone.
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CaringinVA Jan 26, 2024
"You never know what will happen at any given moment. And changes/declines can happen literally overnight." I agree with you as well, Grandma.
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If anything, her daughters should not be paying her way. What will you do for your future when you can’t work anymore?
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You know it but need to get recognition or confidence in doing so. I placed my mom after I missed her by minutes! She knew I was coming over to fix her computer,AGAIN, but she was gone! According to a neighbor she left with a man in a car that wasn't family and it took some time with the help of the police to locate her. Who knows what could have happened to her?!?!? She was confused and thought she had a dental appointment, called a cab,that had no markings. I took her the day before, wrong location. She just up and left!!! I don't know how you can handle it financially but you could start with a Dr who can state her condition and verify that she can't afford to live alone. I would also tell the Dr you've done your best. You don't know how scared you can be when you don't know where they are! Terrifying!!! Dementia is scary and very confusing to them. Everyone takes everything because they can't remember where it is.
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Yadayadayada64: A discussion with your mother regarding facility living will always 'go south.' However, you appear to be close to burnout so it must happen. It's VERY unsafe for her to be living alone as any number of things could happen.
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Stovegirl Feb 1, 2024
We’ve been trying to tell my dad’s family ( he married 2nd time) this as their mother is very bad at this point. Unfortunately, they are in as much denial as their mother, which is really hard to see. thankfully my brother had the presence of mine and had gone through this with his wife’s family to find my dad a memory care facility that would take care of him. It’s just really hard to go through for all.
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Actually, I think that you already know that the time has come. Can't blame you one bit for wishing it were not so. I went through it with my mother (96) who has been living with me for the past 6 years and 3 months.

Dementia patients don't have the mental capacity to know when they are unsafe.

I totally understand the burden that your and your sister are under, and I also can tell you that your mother - like mine - has no understanding or regard for that burden. If she did, she would (hopefully) agree to cooperate with moving to a safe environment.

With my mother, I waited until the last possible minute when we had a crisis of sorts, as I guess most people do when they have uncooperative parents.

My best suggestion is to have a plan in place and then just go for it. Expect resistance and complaints. Go ahead and give yourself permission to cross the line from daughter into dictator. It will help emotionally to stop being afraid of her anger when she doesn't understand that you are only doing her good.
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You need support to take steps toward getting her care, both for her safety & your peace of mind. CarePatrol can offer that support. You can find them via internet search and plug in your ZIP code to find a franchise near you. An advisor will walk you through the entire process at no charge.

I'm sending a hug and hope you'll reach out to get the support you need!
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I would prepare yourselves and search in your area for memory care facilities. We have had the same experiences with my dad (89)and his wife (80)this year. It’s very important to search for all her medical insurance and what they cover, social security # and her assets in case you have to sell everything to finance her care. You may need to speak to a lawyer to set up Power of Attorney to manage everything. My brother and I have been going thru this process the last few months. We have sold his family home and have access to monies in his retirement accounts. We found Medicare paid very little. He is incontinent and has leg wounds from falling. Those need to be mentioned while searching for a place too! It all costs more and some wouldn’t take him. It’s all a big and fast education you go thru. At least you have your sister to help you. I would not have wanted to do this alone!!
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Your mother has these "false memories" since she is losing parts of her memories and is trying to fill in the gaps to make sense. Telling her this will probably only lead to arguments and denials. You can try "therapeutic fibs" - write down the details of the "account" when you are with her and say, "I'll take care of it." Of course, taking care of the situation is letting it fade from her memory and focus. Also try diverting her attention to other, more pleasant, activities and topics of conversation. If these options do not work, talk to her doctor about medication to help her to relax and not become anxious or agitated about her thoughts or experiences.

When she is no longer safe to be alone or stay healthy, then you and your sister will have to face the inevitable - other care arrangements. I would suggest bringing other people into your caregiving circle now since you need more help if either you or sister is ill, injured or needs a hospital stay. You and your sister also need time off to care for yourselves, maintain your other relationships, and even have time off for fun! You and sister can also research all the resources available in your area that your mom may qualify for. Make sure to start looking at long term care facilities that your mom's finances qualify her for. Be aware there can be a waiting period to get her into a place when the time comes.
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