I joined about a month or so ago. I live with and care for my mother who as AD. We generally cope okay but due to advice (and even pressure) from friends, the GP and the memory nurse I have had her assessed by a social worker and had a carer's assessment, as well as signing up to Carecall.
My main problem is that I am an only child and do not have any other close family to share the caring with. I recognise that in a lot of situations the care falls to one particular family member but having no one I can call on is getting to me. My mother has good friends but she is 83 and they are also elderly (some with health problems too) , so I don't feel I can call on them to take over for a few days every now and then. The other problem is that my mother is in denial, or as the social worker said "has no insight" and believes that there is absolutely no problem,even though she is happy to admit that she cannot remember anything from one minute to the next...
With careful planning I can go away for the night but that is all. I have organised for carers to come in for half an hour twice a week to get her used to the idea of external help but (when she can recall this or when we discuss it) my mother is most put out. I can see her point of view but feel it is the only way forward if I am ever to be able to go away for a couple of days (let alone a week or fortnight!)
Is anybody else in a similar situation?
My main problem is that I am an only child and do not have any other close family to share the caring with. I recognise that in a lot of situations the care falls to one particular family member but having no one I can call on is getting to me. My mother has good friends but she is 83 and they are also elderly (some with health problems too) , so I don't feel I can call on them to take over for a few days every now and then. The other problem is that my mother is in denial, or as the social worker said "has no insight" and believes that there is absolutely no problem,even though she is happy to admit that she cannot remember anything from one minute to the next...
With careful planning I can go away for the night but that is all. I have organised for carers to come in for half an hour twice a week to get her used to the idea of external help but (when she can recall this or when we discuss it) my mother is most put out. I can see her point of view but feel it is the only way forward if I am ever to be able to go away for a couple of days (let alone a week or fortnight!)
Is anybody else in a similar situation?
