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Hi, thank you all for reading. I know this is kind of long so I appreciate it so much! I am new here, but hopefully will be able to be an active member as I feel I will have advise for others !

I am currently caring for my parents (88 & 82) in an independent duplex very near my home. I quit my job (I've been a RN for 22 yrs.), to be able to do this. I had the blessings of my 4 brothers at that time (6 months ago). Our parents lived about and hour away from me before we moved them close, and at that time it was apparent they needed more outside help due to forgetfulness and mom's incontinence and physical ability. I just started receiving VA benefits and my parents have a small amount of savings to supplement.

At this point I spend 4-5 hours/day at their home cooking/cleaning/bills/meds/playing games/visiting/working with my mom's ambulation etc. Also do all the shopping/errands since they don't drive. They are otherwise able to do fairly well without me there and my mom gets herself around with dad's help and a wheelchair. I can honestly say I'm doing an excellent job and they are much better off then they were.

I'd first like to say that in the 6 months that my parents have lived there, my brothers COMBINED have visited them less than 8 times. All are close less than 1 hour away except the one that is opposed to a nursing home and he is out of state.

3 of my 4 brothers (2 in particular) are pushing me to put them in a nursing home. Reasons being: My dad is too active/social and is not receiving enough stimulation in that area (I agree he has always been "hyperactive" and social to an extreme almost). I have taken him to the sr. center in town in which most of the people that talk to him start ignoring him because he can be overwhelming...(i.e. bragging/flirting with women/combined with the forgetfulness). He stopped wanting to go except for the occasional bingo game. Other than that they just feel like he's bored and that keeping him cooped up in a duplex is "cruel".

Mom on the other hand is forgetful/mild dementia, but is much more calm and happy staying home. Her physical limitations are improving with my help (she needs a lot of urging and coercing to get her to do anything physical and she refuses to do anything for anyone else but me, including physical therapists). Their concern with her are that she isn't physically stimulated enough, needs rehab (they aren't around, so they don't see the progress she's making and she won't do anything with anyone but me anyway). I work with her with exercises a physical therapist provided and just making her walk with her walker. Brothers also complain that she sleeps a lot (12-14 hrs. a day). I spoke with her dr. about this, she's on antidepressant btw and dr. thinks it's due to early dementia, to let her sleep, but not more than 14-16 hrs. a day. She keeps under that.

I am willing to move them into my/my husband's home and be with them full time, but they continue to persist that they would be better off in a nursing home (which would need to be medicare/medicaid facility). None of them work in the medical field and I feel like they some sort of fairy tale idea about them getting all this attention and care. I explain until I'm blue in the face that I've been in this field for 20+ years and that's just not reality. I know there are many good n.h.'s, but my parents WANT to be with me and get much much more attention and love than the best nursing home could provide. Especially if they live in our home. My brothers trust that I am a great person/nurse and so I am left in disbelief as to how anyone could be so backwards.

If it has to come down to a vote it would be 3-2 in favor of a nursing home. Is there any recourse??? (I am both of their dpoa for healthcare)

Thank you all so much!!! Amy

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You have DPOA and it is your life to do as you please. You do not need your siblings vote, especially if your parents are competent enough to still make their own decision in wanting to be with you. The person you should be concerned with is your husband and how he feels. You should also consider yourself and can you do it in the future as their needs increase. You may have a medical background, but working as a nurse did not involve 24/7 working hours. I think it is great what you are doing.
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Why can't they stay where they are? If your 4-5 hours a day is not enough and they need 24/7 care, they sound well enough for Assisted Living. That setting would give Dad plenty of company. But moving them into your home? No, that would put you on duty for all three shifts. That would invade your husband's privacy. None of us are getting any younger. When my MIL could not function alone at night and complained of boredom, we got her to try Assisted Living. I think the company of 79 other contemporaries has added much to her quality of life.
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I agree with the general consensus that you're OK now but in time (and it may be a very short time) you will need to consider other options for your parents. Trying to manage two parents who need 24/7 care by yourself is a recipe for mental and physical breakdown for you. I'm sure you're a wonderful nurse, but you're not superwoman. No one is. Six months is nothing in the world of caregiving. I had my dad for 9 years and my mom is still here 13 years later and going strong. So keep in mind you may be looking at years of caregiving.

Your husband deserves your time and care. You can certainly devote time and care to your parents, but it shouldn't take over your life or it will wear you down and affect your marriage. And don't move your parents in with you - that's an even bigger recipe for disaster.

Since you're new to the site, spend some time reading through the question and discussion threads under the Alzheimers area. I don't think you're being realistic about your capability as one person to care for two needy elders with dementia by yourself. Watch the Teepa Snow videos on Youtube for more education about dementia. So I'd vote with your brothers, but maybe not this instant...but definitely in the foreseeable future. Good luck and keep us posted.
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Is there any reason you don't have regular Durable POA in addition to the healthcare kind? I would explore that with dad, while he's still able to sign it. I'm not sure if your mom can sign at this point or not, but assuming you have POA, you make the decisions and if the parents agree, then end of topic. It should be up to you and them at this point. The other adult children can always try to go to court to get control, but hey.....you are the best one for that position. You are close by and they rarely award that to an out of state person. So, I would do what I think is best. You probably are giving them great care right now, but I would worry about the future in that role.

I do wonder if you realize how the dementia can really progress. I know you're a nurse, but have you worked with dementia patients who have really progressed? It's not long before they can't be left alone at all. I fear your dad would not be able to handle it alone. With dementia they may fall and can't get up. They may forget they can't walk and fall out of their wheelchair. They may eat shampoo or turn the stove on and forget. It's like tending to a toddler who will get into all kinds of things. Eventually, your conversations will stop as they lose the ability to speak. Then you have the progression where they may choke or can't move at all and you have to get them in and out of bed, change their position, etc. You are the professional, but that's a lot to do 24/7 by yourself. Could you get some help to come in if they lived with you?

I would visit a Memory Care facility and see what kind of care is required at the various stages. My cousin became wheelchair bound fairly quickly with Vascular Dementia mixed with Alzheimers. Her doctors are not very hopeful she will rehabilitate her legs. Things start going away, such as walking, talking, feeding, etc. To my knowledge, it doesn't get any better, even with rehab.

I think it's great what you're doing for your parents. If you think it's best and they want it, I would be hesitant to disagree. You are right that long term care facilities have their issues. Some are better than others, but they all have issues and your parents may not find a perfect fit.

Your dad's behavior could be due to some dementia. That will continue. He may be very content though at an Assisted Living facility. They have socials and activities there. People with dementia are very common so, odd behavior is quite the norm.

It's a tough call. I know that caring for two people by yourself in the home as it progresses will be very challenging. I applaud you. I know I would not even consider it. It sounds like you really want what's best for them. You'll make the best decision.
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amye, here's an idea, would it be possible for you to stay with your parents at their home for a few days to see what it would be like 24 hours a day? You as a nurse realize that dementia doesn't get better, it doesn't stay the same, it unfortunately only gets worse.

As for your Dad, if you moved your folks to your home, would your Dad feel like he could do whatever he wants because he is in his daughter's house, fully disregarding your husband? Would your Dad's hyperactive personality put a strain on your marriage?

There is a lot to consider. I, myself, would side with your brothers. I hope everyone can make a good discussion that is a win-win for everybody.
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Are your brothers seeing that this caregiving "gig" is putting a strain on you? Maybe you don't see it yourself, but I'm wondering if you are giving enough attention to your own health, mental and otherwise. Do you get out, go to the movies with your husband, pursue hobbies, see friends, atttend to your spiritual needs? Or are you totally consumed with caring for your parents, even when you're not around them.

There is certainly joy in doing caregiving for our parents well. Part of the issue is that when you're too close to a situation, without the input of other caregiviers/boss/doctor, you might not realize when their needs start to outweigh your capacity. A hospitalization might change their health/mental status suddenly and you might think, oh, just a few weeks and I'll have her up again. Not so much when the patient is 80's 90's. Just some thoughts.
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Caregiving is not a democracy. You don't take a vote. The parents get to decide as long as they are able to understand the situation. You get to decide as MPOA. Brothers get to suggest, advise, state their opinions. Brothers do not get to decide, individually or by vote.

When parents can no longer remain in home, you have another decision to face. I personally don't think it is wise or even feasible to bring them into your home unless you hire additional help. But it is your decision. Listen to your brothers. Listen to folks on this forum. But the decisions is still yours.

Would your Dad even qualify for a nursing home at this point? Does he medically need skilled nursing?
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Sunnygirl's comments are right on target. My father has both Vascular Dementia and Alzheimer's. Last year, he was early stage, and able to manage independent living with my active support. Now, he's doubly incontinent, completely disoriented with regard to time and place, constantly wants to go "home" to his childhood home to see his mother (long deceased), a huge wandering risk, a huge fall risk and very nocturnal. I would strongly advise against bringing someone with moderate (or greater) dementia into your home. The stresses and strains are immense. Your own length of life will be shortened and your marriage will be put at risk. It they have early dementia, you might consider it, with the understanding that they will need to move once the demands on you become too great. With dementia, that day will come.
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I agree with ba8alou above, a medical situation could pop up without warning.

My parents use to walk 2 miles a day, been doing that for decades, but now a mere 6 years later, Dad [now 93] can barely walk down to the mailbox at the end of his driveway... a heart attack out of the blue caused his physical decline [at least he was in the perfect place when it happened, he and Mom were doing volunteer work at a hospital].
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I can tell you're a very caring, loving daughter, my only concern is were is your life, yes we all want the best for our parents but maybe you're taking on too much??? What if they come live with you and then you realize you took on too much and regret your choice. Your parents might want to live with you, but is it the right decision for you and your husband.
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