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I am my 70 year old mother's caregiver. My gf and I moved in with her two years ago. Her health has declined since we moved in. She has stage 4 COPD, (still smokes 12/14 cigarettes a day), is on 2 liters of oxygen, has stage 3 kidney failure, had a colostomy 5 years ago, and was recently diagnosed with a cantaloupe size parastomal hernia, has a brain tremor ( due to alcohol abuse), is blind in left eye, is 5'3" and weighs 190lbs. She had a mild heart attack and a small stroke 2 1/2 years ago. She has dementia and alzheimers. She lays in bed mostly all day, only gets up to smoke. She uses her Pro-Air and Advair inhalers more than perscribed, ( sometimes up to 10 times a day (PRO-AIR). All she does is eats (SNACK FOODS) if I don't buy them she bitches) and when dinner is done she barely eats because she filled up with junk food. She has taken 2 showers since we moved in. Her skin is dry and flaky . She will ask for a washcloth the day before her doctor comes for his monthly visit. She lies to him, doesn't tell him all that is bothering her, so we call in advance and let him know what to check on her when he comes. She refuses any and all therapy (thats why her muscles hurt because she's not using them). I get "NO HELP AT ALL" from my siblings. My gf and I are "SO STRESSED OUT AND OVERWHELMED" we don't know what to do. She is draining us financially. while she has money up the "WAZOO!" She won't pitch in for household goods.......such as toilet paper, laundry soap, cleaning supplies..... NOT ONE PENNY! She always tells us that she doesn't have any money..... and that's B*** S***. I can't afford the legal process for guardianship and my siblings would disown me. They "DO NOT I REPEAT DO NOT" know the extent of what we go through with her. When we ask for help they have some excuse. We both feel "ABANDONED", We do not know anyone who would be willing to do what we do on a daily basis. She "ACCUSED" us of "STEALING" from her. Everyone is out to get her and rape her. We can't have friends over because "They make to much noise, our dog can't bark, because he makes to much noise. She goes to bed at 4:30 pm. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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I would not bring cigarettes or junk food in at all. Yes. she'll bitch but go to another room and let her bitch to herself. She might be better off in assisted care since she seems to need care but refuse to go get it.
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The next time she ends up in the hospital (and given her health issues, I assume she has a crisis from time to time) inform the social workers that you cannot accept her being discharged to your care, as you can no longer keep her safe. I hope she's not smoking while the oxygen is on! If that were the case, I'd call 911.
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ba8alous took my exact answer!

Bide your time until she has to go into the hospital and then involve a social worker and get her placed in a skilled nursing facility. Start planning for it now. Assess her finances. Can she afford a NH? If not you may have to apply for Medicaid for her in which case you will have to spend down any money she has. Your state's Medicaid website can help you with that information.
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You are what we call in the medical profession as an "enabler". You buy the junk food, you buy the cigarettes, you allow her to smoke when there is oxygen in the house, so you are part of the problem. You can go to Probate court, claim indigent and the court will waive a guardianship fee which is about $250 (that's what it used to be in AZ). With all of her medical issues she will die before her dementia takes her. One can only be diagnosed with Alzheimer's at death which entails slicing brain tissue. I suspect she is filling up on junk foods because her diabetes is out of control. In any event, tell the doctor the truth about her behaviors and he/she can order her hospice care. Then you can have caregivers visit and give you some respite. It will not help you to get yourself and your grandfather in such a stressed state you hurt yourselves.
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She actually will be better off in the hospital, where she can be cared for 24 hours a day. We had to wait and call the ambulance after a fall. But, I understand where you are coming from. My mother's quality of life improved 100%, after that hospital got her into rehab.
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This sounds alot like my mother...especially the junk food. But here is what I would do...

You need to have a family meeting and read the other siblings the riot act about what is going on. Lay it all on the line and tell them that you are going for guardianship.

If they object, they can either take your mother or deal with it.

The reason you haven't done this yet...and sorry to go all Dr. Phil on you...but right now you don't respect yourself.

You have the absolute right to live your life, and caring for a lying, ungrateful person is only going to make things worse for you and your girlfriend.

After that, take Fessis1's advice regarding guardianship.
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She has "money up the wazoo" and you are hoping to get your hands on it, I assume. You are going to wait until the last minute to send her to the nursing home because it doesn't look too good for her to die in the house.
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@ stoicman,
what your calling assumptions come out as accusations and they result in you looking like a conclusion jumping asshole. see anyone can be brisk. giving someone the benefit of doubt till proven otherwise is much more civil and mature.
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