Follow
Share

I was wondering if a list of what he needs to show me he can do before he goes home would help? I don't want to do it if it would be harmful, but when I tell him what he needs to do he insists he can.

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Becky, remember, its our job as daughters and POAs for our parents to make those tough decisions FOR THEM that they are no longer mentally competent to make. Dad's already had 2 major bones broken at home, it's not working there.

My mom was segued into Memory Care Assisted Living after 4 years in regular AL. She was furious, insisting she was fine and needed no help whatsoever. Meanwhile, she was wheelchair bound and insisting I was hiding her mother in the closet at the memory care. Her mother would've been 137 years old.

With dementia at play, pt is very difficult bc they are not motivated to exercise or do the hard work required to get walking again. Mom sure wasn't.

She stayed in Memory Care and passed with hospice at 95 years old, peacefully, in Feb of 22. I have no regrets for keeping her there, where she was well cared for, in spite of her wanting to come live with me. It wouldn't have been possible.
Helpful Answer (6)
Report

Your father sounds just like my nearly 90 year old father in law , dementia , barely walks , very incontinent and ….also thinks he can take care of himself . They can’t .

We tell my father in law that the doctor says he is not well enough and he has to stay where the nurses are .
Helpful Answer (6)
Report

Me, I would say "When the doctor gives us a letter stating that it ok for you to go home and care for yourself, we will consider it"! It will never happen.

A list won't do a thing if he has dementia, in one brain cell out the other.

One of the keys should be to tell him you will not help him move or care for him after that.

I have two in a facility, one my 98 yo mother in AL, the other my stepmother in MC. My mother loves where she is, the other one doesn't know where she is.

This is one of the things that you will have to work through, everyday there is something new, most likely soon he will forget all about going home.

He is now the child and you are the parent, look at it that way, you need to be firm, set your boundaries and stick to them.

Sending support your way!
Helpful Answer (6)
Report

You’re trying to be nice and not get yelled at by your parent. It’s a difficult rock and hard place to be in. You’re doing the right thing. As a complete side, it’s also hard to watch your parent’s hard earned assets go to a facility.
Helpful Answer (4)
Report
lealonnie1 Oct 2023
The man is 96. What "should" the hard earned money be spent on if not good care in a nice, high quality MC? I spent nearly $400k of my parents money on precisely that. No inheritance for me, but it wasn't my hard earned money in the first place.
(13)
Report
See 2 more replies
"not knowing how to deal with him insisting that he can and blaming me".

Shift this blame. Pronto.

You did not cause him to get old.
You did not cause him to fall.
Tell him.

He can blame OLD AGE & rant at.. I dunno.. the sky. But he can ZIP IT & stop blaming you because it is NOT your fault.

Then you can move onto his team.
I KNOW Dad, it's so unfair. I'd love you to go home too. Let's just make the best of it, eh?

Then distract, distract, distract.

He will hopefully get used to his new daily routine.
Let's face it, NHs are not great BUT there may be a few activities or hopefully caring staff to chat to rather than a rehab/hospital with overworked nurses. He make make his new space his own, & hopefully gain some acceptance.
Helpful Answer (4)
Report
anonymous1732518 Oct 2023
Some rehab/hospital can be the same. You forgot to mention a NH where gossiping goes on l, especially among the Aides.
(0)
Report
I had to tell my mother this very thing last week. The saddest part is her mind is intact and I had to be blunt and give her the many reasons culminating with the fact her daughters cannot prop her up in her home any longer. She cried and was upset and it was upsetting for me as well.

She at least will spend her final years with my dad. They will not be discarded and forgotten by us. At least one of their daughters visits every day.

It was not well received but I just don’t care anymore. I’m done. We really tried to keep them both home for as long as possible. We kept hoping they would die in their sleep at home, but life played a cruel joke on my parents. They are living too long with no quality of life any longer. Just quantity now.
Helpful Answer (4)
Report
waytomisery Oct 2023
Hothouse ,
So sorry . I’m sure it’s just as difficult to have been dealing with your mother’s stubbornness as it is dealing with a person with dementia who insists they want to stay at home and can’t be reasoned with . Either way , the burnt caregiver is held hostage until placement can be achieved .
(3)
Report
Your father is 96 with Alzheimer's/dementia.....and wants to go home ....from where? Your profile says he lives in Assisted Living. Is that where he wants to go home from?

I'd say absolutely not based on the dementia alone. Then throw in incontinence and the fact he's 96, it's a surefire recipe for disaster to send him home to live independently. You'd have to hire an aide to do everything for him 24/7. When dementia is at play, they insist they're FINE and need no help at all when we all know that to be untrue.

Get his doctor involved to tell him it's out of the question. That's what I'd do if it were my father.
Helpful Answer (3)
Report
AlvaDeer Oct 2023
Thanks for pointing out the profile info, Lea.
(4)
Report
See 1 more reply
Becky, it sounds like you are attempting to reason with your dad.

You can't reason with someone with dementia.
Helpful Answer (3)
Report
BeckyR2023 Oct 2023
Yes, you are correct and I agree. Very helpful comment, thanks
(2)
Report
Becky, I would have a tough talk with the Social Worker and tell her/him to tell dad you AND they could go to jail if you agreed to this unsafe discharge.

I'm sorry your dad is angry. It will pass.
Helpful Answer (3)
Report

If you give him a list and he demonstrates that he can't do some or all of the things, how does that help? How would you enforce his not going home?

You don't state what is wrong with him or his age, but if it's dementia, he won't remember that he couldn't do the things, or he won't do them at all, or he won't understand the reasoning behind why you want him to do them.

In dementia, the patient often insists that he can do things. Or that he has done things. Or doesn't need to do the things.

If he wants to go home with you, don't fall for that maneuver. Many have, and many have regretted it. Wherever he is, he's probably being cared for by professionals. Thank your lucky stars and hope he can stay there!
Helpful Answer (2)
Report
BeckyR2023 Oct 2023
Yes, I am glad we found the facility where he is at. He has major mobility issues with the dementia, but he is very aware of what kind of place he is in. He isn't aware of his limitations at all.
(3)
Report
See All Answers
This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Ask a Question
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter