Hi all, I need some advice.
A little about my family.. I have a parent with mid-term Alzheimer's and my other parent is their main carer (not that they would like that title or my Alz parent would accept it!). I work fulltime and am single mum to a young child.
My parents are literally together 24/7. My carer parent has barely any time to themselves and I can see it is taking its toll as my alz parent's disease gets steadily worse They like/insist on seeing me as much as humanly possible
However, I'm constantly feeling bad because I also need to have time with my child, time with my friends and time with my partner, (and, dare i say it, time to just switch off!) outside of my working hours, but always end up feeling guilty when I say I'm already busy when questioned about what I'm doing and if i'm available every day. I know my carer parent desperately needs time to themselves - a hobby, or to make new friends but they wont; all they seem to do is go to the various (brilliant) alzhemiers groups during the week and come and see me and my child.
I just don't know what to suggest and am wondering if we can introduce a new friend (befriender) somehow to my alz parent who will possibly take them out for periods of time just to give my carer parent a break. But, because there is a lot of denial in my alz parent they are very quick to accuse and get very very paranoid so i just don't know how something like that can work.
Wow.. sorry for the essay! Any advice on this sort of thing would be gratefully received.
A little about my family.. I have a parent with mid-term Alzheimer's and my other parent is their main carer (not that they would like that title or my Alz parent would accept it!). I work fulltime and am single mum to a young child.
My parents are literally together 24/7. My carer parent has barely any time to themselves and I can see it is taking its toll as my alz parent's disease gets steadily worse They like/insist on seeing me as much as humanly possible
during the week
- i think it has become a focus for my alz parent and my carer parent see's it as a necessity for their own sanity (even though it doesn't give them time on their own) - and i try my best to help, see them and cook for them etc as much as i can (several times a week). However, I'm constantly feeling bad because I also need to have time with my child, time with my friends and time with my partner, (and, dare i say it, time to just switch off!) outside of my working hours, but always end up feeling guilty when I say I'm already busy when questioned about what I'm doing and if i'm available every day. I know my carer parent desperately needs time to themselves - a hobby, or to make new friends but they wont; all they seem to do is go to the various (brilliant) alzhemiers groups during the week and come and see me and my child.
I just don't know what to suggest and am wondering if we can introduce a new friend (befriender) somehow to my alz parent who will possibly take them out for periods of time just to give my carer parent a break. But, because there is a lot of denial in my alz parent they are very quick to accuse and get very very paranoid so i just don't know how something like that can work.
Wow.. sorry for the essay! Any advice on this sort of thing would be gratefully received.