Mom has Alzheimer's, Dad is her caregiver. I need an emergency plan if he's out of the picture.

Have you considered hiring a local certified geriatric care manager? They will come in, assess the situation and help with a logical game plan. For starters I'd suggest that you have video cameras installed so you can check in on them from your home, office or phone.Times are tight- do they have a neighbor that you can pay to do light meals, housekeeping and shopping? or maybe someone from their local church group? When you visit, drop in on a local Alzheimer's or dementia support group- they may be able to give you names of community resources. Check the grocery store bill boards- they often have names of people who are willing to work. God bless.

Reserve judgement until you've walked a mile in their shoes.

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I think you should go visit them and assess the situation. I believe in the old "talking and convincing" routine until they give in. Tell your Dad you know how much he loves his wife and you love them both just as much, that the stress on your Dad will kill him first, then who will take care of his wife? (63% of caregivers die first) IF anything should happen to her, the hospital probably wont let her go home again with only him. You can hire live-in caretakers,some charge 50K a year, which is cheap. At least start with someone stopping by like meals on wheels, its at least "someone" to break the ice. Stress the fact that you want them to get help to make YOU feel better, so YOU wont worry and will he do it for YOU because you live far away. You can set up a Nanny-Cam when you are there and watch it from home, there are lots of things, but your Dad has to give in. Very Similar situation I know of...my Moms friends were in their 90's. He was still SO in love with her and he took care of her. The kids flew in and set up a morning home heath aide to get her up and dressed (alzheimers) and he drove (yes drove) down the street for groceries at age 93 while he bathed his wife. Long story short, one day HE fell. The morning caretaker found him, he remembered nothing and no one and was sent to a nursing home, his wife to another nursing home. HE died first, weeks later she died. What a love story .
I would assume he had a stroke, and the stress of a parent is hard enough for us, imagine doing it at that age. Good luck,

Have you thought about a Lifeline with Auto Alert for your dad to wear. If he is alert and he or she needed help, he could push the button. If he falls and is unconscious, it starts an automatic dial out for someone to check on them as she would not be able to call 911 or anyone for help.

Regarding living, I would suggest that you visit places in their city and have her on a list for placement (the one you feel the best about). When they call with an opening, you simply say, we are not ready, but keep us on the list. It might even be good to be on 2 or 3 lists. If you do this, you have made the best decision for them in this situation. If not, it will be a crisis and a "crisis driven decision", which very often would be made by someone else or simply the first place that has an opening. The greatest gift you can give them is to have that Plan B, but hopefully never have to use it.

terrimerritts, did you actually read both the original post and CandyKane57's response carefully? Or do you just look for an opportunity to jump in with insensitive bigotry about "typical selfish American pigs"?

Did you by any chance happen to notice that 2bluwings's dad is not cooperating with planning for the future? You moved your grandparents in with you. Take another star for your halo. But that hardly makes it the best solution in every situation. Dad does not want to have help brought in. He does not want to move out of the home he shares with his disabled wife. Dragging them kicking and screaming 700 miles across country might not be the ideal solution in this case. All 2bluwings is asking for is some brainstorming about EMERGENCY situations that will come up in the future. You've stated your advice (move them in with you) and others have the right to express their advice without encountering name-calling.

2bluwings is trying to make plans for a crisis situation, since she lives far from her parents. CandyKane57 suggested she may have to let nature take its course when the crisis happens (and one inevitably will). This is pretty much what IsntEasy describes as a reality with the "waiting for crisis" notation on a folder. It is what I had in mind when I said, "avoid beating yourself up if things happen in a way you didn't anticipate." If that makes any of us pigs, then all I can say is "oink, oink."

Whoa! Take it easy on "CandyCane57"! It's folks like you, "terrimerritts" that like to heap on the guilt and make caring for aging parents even more stressful that it has to be.
"2bluwings" - Your father's health is almost certainly suffering by caring for your mother. If they would both make a move, your dad would absolutely have a higher quality of life and you wouldn't have to fear for your mother's well-being in the event of an emergency. That said, it sounds like your dad won't see the forest for the trees on this. That's not uncommon. I work for a senior community and when families call in telling stories almost identical to yours, we sadly mark their file "waiting for a crisis".
So, the unfortunate reality might be that your dad won't do what's best for him - you probably frustrated him in that way when you were a teen : ) I advise adult children to pull out all the stops in convincing a recalcitrant parent in this situation, but it's rare that they do.
You need to get to some kind of peace about the situation. Your dad is calling the shots and if you don't think you can overrule him, the 'plan' he has will have certain consequences. You'll just have to trust that the neighbors, first responders, social workers, etc. who will get to your parents first in an emergency, will be kind and do their best, because the overwhelming majority of people do. It's not likely that your mom will be left confused in the middle of her living room as the ambulance pulls away. The first responders will call the police or social services. If you can convince him to do it, have your dad post detailed instructions on the fridge and a small note on the front door directing first responders to look there.

I disagree with trrimerritts because I don't want my children to have the responsibility and burden of looking after me during a long term terminal illness. I would consider myself selfish to think otherwise. Plenty of people I've known have passed on at an age much less than mine. I'm 82, and for me, quality of life is just as important as quantity. I'm not without health problems, but I enjoy every day the best I can. And when I can't, then so be it!X

CandyCane57- That is one of the sickest suggestions I have read anywhere on any topic. Is that how YOU hope to be treated one day? Remember that those parents you would like to see abandoned once brought the questioner into the world and tended to her needs even when it stressed them emotionally and financially. Her parents are not dying. They are struggling. She can get financial help for their needs. You are suggesting she be a typical selfish American pig who just thinks of himself/herself. You are saying she should abandon them and walk off like it is nothing to her, to treat them like garbage. SHAME on you. I feel sorry for your parents. I feel sorry for any kids you have.

I understand your situation. I was once in the same boat with my elderly grandparents in their 80's and 90's. My grandmother had both Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. I chose to move them in with us. I am a writer so I worked from home anyway and I was deeply concerned about them. It was easy to arrange help right where we were and there are adult day care centers for when you have to be away.There are services that will send help to your home and since my grandmother was on Medicare, they actually paid for a nurse's aide to come 5 days a week to help with bathing (my grandmother was finally bedridden in a hospital bed they also provided us with) and once a week a registered nurse was sent.

I am caring for my wife and have concerns about what would happen if I became incapacitated. My wife is almost totally incapacitated and could not contact anyone, or for that matter leave the house. Is there any type of service that would alert someone if I failed to "check in" each day?

Wow I couldn't read your whole letter...relax. Maybe going to visit and staying with them for a week would give you a better idea of what the needs are. I recommend meditation for you...really start a practice twice a day. You can easily find video's on the internet. And you know taking care of you is the first step before helping your parents.
I took care of my mom for years so I know what it is to panic. I always felt better once I got there and got my feet grounded into the situation. I always made it worse inside of myself than it actually was. But on the other hand it's not easy. I would start with the local area agency on aging. I would look for people that can come in at $10 an hour under the table which makes it more like $13 plus. Maybe you dad would be able to hand a younger person just to come in and be with him and do things around the house. Who does the shopping and cooking? An assessment of their situation is really needed here. There are many ways of helping. So get your feet wet and keep all your options open. Look for the open doors! God Bless.

This may sound harsh, but maybe you should just let nature take it's course. I mean, they are 88 and 90! If you start 'taking over,' there's no turning back. Are you willing to change everything about your life right now to possible care for your parents yourself since funds are limited? Think of the bigger picture. Have they had a good life? Are they comfortable where they are? Maybe you shouldn't call everyday...Try every other day. Your list of options is long; but step back for a moment. ANY emergency will force the issue and take the situation out of your Dad's control anyway. Waiting for the other shoe to drop may be the most practical option right now. Best wishes, whatever you decide.

2bluwings, it is wonderful that you are being proactive and thinking ahead about various contingencies. You are a loving and careful daughter. Gold stars to you!

It sounds like your mother would not be living in her own home now if she didn't have your father to look after her. But she does have him. That is a blessing and a gift and something to celebrate.

There are two things that can interfere with this situation.

1. Mother's disease can progress to the point where it is not possible for her to be cared for in a private home and definitely not in a private home without assistance. Unless some other end, such as a heart attack, occurs first, many (most?) dementia cases do reach a point where placement is in the best interests of all concerned.

2. Something could happen to Father, taking him out of the caregiving role either temporarily or permanently.

I know that you are currently concentrating on #2, but I wonder if handling #1 first might build a good foundation for any contingency.

This might take some convincing of Father, but you really are on his side. You want your parents to stay together for as long as humanly possible, till death parts them if that is possible. It is the nature of dementia to get progressively worse and harder to care for. This is not a failing of your father's or even about his age. (He needs to know that you understand that.) The absolute best way to ensure that Mother can stay with Father as long as possible is to bring in some outside help. Promise him that when an assessment is done if the first recommendation is placement you will fight for the second recommendation. Assure him that the goal is to keep them together and even if professionals think that is not the best choice, it is his choice and you will fight tooth and nail to advocate for his choice. Also point out that for an agency to provide some help to keep Mother at home is cheaper for them than placing her in a facility, if you think that will help convince him that they won't "take her away" from him as long as he is willing to have her at home.

What kind of help can be brought in now to assist with Mother's care, and be increased as she declines?

I'm sure that it is going to be a hard sell, but it sounds like you have great insight into your parents' life views and attitudes. I hope you can convince Father that you are working for what he wants and that together you need to figure out how he can continue to care for her in their home as long as possible. If there is some "outsider" whose opinion he respects, enlist them in helping you convince him. A doctor, a religous leader, a golfing buddy -- anybody he might consider "objective" could be a help.

If you have some care assistance in place, when an emergency happens it will be much easier for you to deal with -- you will have a case worker or an agency emergency number to contact.

Meanwhile, if you get an emergency notification about your father, tell the person notifying you about your mother. "Thank you for notifying me. I'll be there on the next flight out. My mother has Alzheimer's and has been living with my father. Can you tell me where she is right now?" If Father is taken to a hospital, ask to talk to the social worker immediately and let him or her know about the situation. They will know what emergency measures can be taken for Mother until you get there.

Your planning efforts are an act of love, and I wish you much success with them. Also know that as much as we care and plan, there are many things outside of our control. We know that our parents are going to die. We are less willing to accept that there will be pain and confusion and emotional discomfort for the spouse that experiences the other's death. We want to prevent that, and you are taking practical steps to minimize it. Good for you! Just try to avoid beating yourself up if things happen in a way you didn't anticipate. You are doing your best. You can feel good about that.

my mom is in the family waiver program she is 87 years old and gets care 7 days a week and 10 hours a day, you work with your local area agency on aging they asses her needs plus it also depends on the financial aspect of it, she then applies to the state welfare to apporve her for the program, this covers her medical, and toiletary needs: like diapers bed pads etc, her head nurse and aides make sure they keep a daily log and take her to her scheduled appointments with the doctors, which is good because she doesnt have no out of pocket expenses, this is to avoid putting her in a nursing home, so she can have care in the home. See if your dad also qualifies for this type of care, they might even pay for a round the clock nurse as well