Hi I am new here and am looking for an online support group because I can't get out of my house to attend a local one.
I am 50 years old and caregiver for my 88 year old mother with dementia. I have had her living in my home for close to 3 years and was part time (weekend) caregiver for her for several years before that.
I am getting so burnt out that I am not sure how much longer I will be able to continue to do this. I am depressed, I can't sleep sound EVER, and my emotions are so fragile - I am quick to tear.
I have 6 sisters - but like most of us, they don't help me and Mom. They've all pretty much turned their backs on her - saying that our mother left years ago and they have already mourned her. I of course always respond by telling them that our mother has not gone anywhere, she is in my house waiting for them to come see her.
I am the youngest in the family - I was a "mid-life accident" after my parents had already decided that 7 children were enough. My family made sure that I knew this growing up.
I moved here from out of state 10 years ago because I knew my parents would need me and that my sisters would not be mature enough to set their own desires aside and give them the help they needed.
I am self employed, so relocating back to NY meant having to start from scratch re-building a new business and a way to pay my bills. It has been a struggle for me since day 1. NY is way more expensive that MA (where I lived my entire adult life) so I need to make more here than I needed to make there. Growing a business has been difficult because before Dad passed and I moved Mom into my home - I was constantly running back and forth from my house to their senior living apartment.
But if I thought that was hard - I was in for a rude awakening when Dad passed and Mom's dementia kicked into over drive. Since moving her into my home I have had no time for my own life. Honestly I can barely remember my own life - and am starting to feel like I don't even know what that means anymore and I won't' know how to have a life when this chapter ends.
I did just recenlty get my sister with financial POA (YEAH I have Mom and she has the money) to release some funds so I can start bringing in a little help.
Before all of this, I thought that I loved my family - I thought my sisters were good people. Through all of this I am learning that with them it is all surpface and public image with nothing inside. I do not have ANY good people in my life. I have been betrayed by everyone in my life within the past few years - one by one.
The lesson I am going to take away from this is when Mom no longer needs me and I leave NY again - I am going to surround myself with a better class of people than those who were in my life before.
I guess because I have been an independant person and never needed anyone, I didn't realize that if the day came that I DID NEED them - they would not be there for me . Now I know.
Have you found a lawyer to o deal with all this? My friend is dealing with the similar situation and her POA case is currently ongoing in court! She visited many official source to hire a good lawyer and finally found one. Best luck to you too!
Also, I would like to add she referred a lawyer from fr.linkedin.com/in/bechara-tarabay-550b7929. She says the experience is very good!