Hello there - I'm writing to ask for help/advice. My Mum suffers with A - she lives with my Dad who is her main carer. They live in the SW of England and one of my sisters lives about 10 miles from them. I live in Nottingham and our other sister lives in Cheltenham. I think Mum has been suffering with A for about 10 years although it's so difficult to remember when symptoms starting presenting themselves. Dad has coped brilliantly and has wanted to care for her himself with support from from his three daughters.
In the last three years as Mum has become more unwell Dad has had several bouts of ill-health and, as her carer, this has proved so hard. As I'm writing this I'm struggling as I really want to write this well - but emotions are getting the better of me I'm afraid.
Dad is undergoing another bout of ill-health - pneumonia this time. He is at home but in bed. My sisters and I are taking it in turns to go and stay to look after him and Mum (who cannot understand why he is being so lazy and staying in bed all day!!).
We all know (Dad included) that the inevitable is going to happen and Mum is going to have to have residential care - our awful dilemma, which I'm sure so many people have faced, is when we should start considering this. Really it's the when, how, where etc. We just need some help with this as we all want to do the best we can for both of them.
Many thanks in advance
Ally
In the last three years as Mum has become more unwell Dad has had several bouts of ill-health and, as her carer, this has proved so hard. As I'm writing this I'm struggling as I really want to write this well - but emotions are getting the better of me I'm afraid.
Dad is undergoing another bout of ill-health - pneumonia this time. He is at home but in bed. My sisters and I are taking it in turns to go and stay to look after him and Mum (who cannot understand why he is being so lazy and staying in bed all day!!).
We all know (Dad included) that the inevitable is going to happen and Mum is going to have to have residential care - our awful dilemma, which I'm sure so many people have faced, is when we should start considering this. Really it's the when, how, where etc. We just need some help with this as we all want to do the best we can for both of them.
Many thanks in advance
Ally