Communities

Moms taking care of an elderly parent(s)

All Communities > Moms taking care of an elderly parent(s) > Caring for mother in law with Parkinson

Caring for mother in law with Parkinson

Amanda - posted on 06/22/2010 ( 3 moms have responded )

1

12

I live in Regina, Canada. Until last summer my mother in law was living in London, England. We spent the summer there getting the house ready to sell and getting Mother ready to move here. My husband is an only child. Mother has Parkinson's Disease and high blood pressure, she is 81 or 83 (no records as she was taken from home in Poland and sent to concentration camp in Siberia with her parents and siblings).. She has been with us now since August 14, 2009. I believe she is in stage 4 or 5 Parkinson's. She does have a physician here.So far we have had no outside help due to Mother not being able to get a health card until she becomes a landed immigrant (this could take another year or more). And we couldn't afford to pay for outside help until the house finalized in England which just happended a short time ago. I am primary caregiver and my husband helps out when he can.. I feel isolated. Anyone else who needs to talk who can understand would be great. I am a breast cancer survivor of 12 years, 2 awesome teenage sons aged 13 and 16. We have 2 dogs and a cat. I no longer work outside the home (about 3 years now) and do not leave the house very often. There's lots going on and I feel overwhelmed with a husband who doesn't see any problems. Thanks for listening.

Join Circle of Moms

Sign up for Circle of Moms and be a part of this community! Membership is just one click away.

Join Circle of Moms

3 Comments

View replies by

Sandy - posted on 08/26/2011

1

6

You need to take some time for yourself on the weekend when your husband is not working...just go have a cup of coffee, get a pedicure, see a matinee, just be yourself for about 2-3 hours. It will refresh your outlook and make you a better caretaker also. Hang in there, it is a trying time. Your children will be better people from having to go through this.

Elizabeth - posted on 01/09/2011

4

19

Amanda, your situation certainly has some iteresting twists that make it quite difficult for you...I sympathize. I not only have the support of my husband & sons, but our extended families as well. We also have had the benefit of outside care agencies coming in to do physical therapy & occupational therapy & mom's insurance has covered that. I'm so sorry that you don't have the help that you need & have such hurdles to jump to get it. I do hope that it all works out for you...sounds like your sons are wonderful boys...it's the mom's job to see that they mature into wonderful men...much different from the way our spouses & fathers were raised...that there are things that we women do that they don't need to help with...not the case anymore...it's share & share alike. You certainly must have the strength to carry on being that you're a cancer survivor...I wish you the very best. Make sure you get some respite care for your loved one so that you can take some breaks. Best wishes. Beth

Sarah - posted on 01/09/2011

46

6

I know this post isn't new but I'm new so I'll give you my two cents. You are a very good person. Your husband should spend some time at home and be the main care giver this will give a small idea of how your days go. Also let the boys tell him the kids usually see what effects Mom well before the husbands. There is a lot going on and you should find a way to take some time for yourself. It doesn;t need to be a large block of time all at once but some small segments so that you can do whatever you want or need to do for YOU. If you neglect yourself too long everyone will end up suffering,

Want to find out the opinions of this community?

Add Poll