Caring for elderly parents
By sarahcaitlin
@sarahcaitlin (132)
Canada
March 23, 2007 6:02pm CST
My parents are getting older and my mother has the beginning stages of Alzheimers. In the next few years they will require care but I don't know if my sisters and I should put them in a home or care for them ourselves.
My older sister lives abroad, my younger sister is a coke addict, my youngest sister is only 14, and I am a full time student. Logically, I am the only person in the family who is capable of looking after them but I wonder if I can manage on my own.
I don't want to just dump my parents in some home, I want them to be cared for and seeing as they cared for me all my life I feel like I owe them something. Has anyone cared for their aging parents? Have either of them had Alzheimers? What would you suggest?
1 response
@misheleen73 (6037)
• United States
24 Mar 07
I have not had a parent with Alzheimers, however I have a friend who is caring for an elderly Aunt with Alzheimers. She has told me, that there are days that she will take the keys and go out and forget how to get home. She was missing once for 3 days. They hide the car keys now, but she leaves for walks and gets lost as well. My friend has to work so she cannot watch her all the time and has had to hire outside help just to make sure he Aunt is safe. She starts to cook things and forgets they are on the stove as well which could be a fire hazard. I suggest talking with your family and deciding what is right for your family. i would suggest if someone cannot be with her at all times, perhaps hiring someone if you don't want to do the home thing. Alzheimers unfortunately is a terrible problem and requires a lot of attention as it worsens.
