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wolf · 12-30-2009, 10:32 AM

I have recently been through what you're dealing with. The hardest part is putting up with the tirades, sometimes, because you can't respond.

I was pushing some serious compassion fatigue for a while. It was especially difficult for me, because my job (which I viewed as an escape from home, at times) is extremely stressful, and involves dealing with seriously mentally ill people who are off their medication.

Respite care is a great idea, but can be expensive. Check in your area to see if there are any TRUSTWORTHY volunteer organizations available to you. A lot also depends on how debilitated your parents are, can they be left alone for any periods of time, and what level of care do they need? Total care, or just someone to clean up a bit and remind them to eat?

Also, do you have a sibling that you can either call on for help, or use as a reality check? (siswolf was the one who recognized that much of momwolf's care was beyond my ability, and that we might have to consider a nursing home ... this was before her final illness, but may have been the one just before that).

12-30-2009, 10:32 AM	#4
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	I have recently been through what you're dealing with. The hardest part is putting up with the tirades, sometimes, because you can't respond. I was pushing some serious compassion fatigue for a while. It was especially difficult for me, because my job (which I viewed as an escape from home, at times) is extremely stressful, and involves dealing with seriously mentally ill people who are off their medication. Respite care is a great idea, but can be expensive. Check in your area to see if there are any TRUSTWORTHY volunteer organizations available to you. A lot also depends on how debilitated your parents are, can they be left alone for any periods of time, and what level of care do they need? Total care, or just someone to clean up a bit and remind them to eat? Also, do you have a sibling that you can either call on for help, or use as a reality check? (siswolf was the one who recognized that much of momwolf's care was beyond my ability, and that we might have to consider a nursing home ... this was before her final illness, but may have been the one just before that). __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis