Every time your siblings tell you that he should stay at home, ask them to come over and try taking care of him for a WHOLE DAY just to get an idea of what it is like before they open their mouths. Don't be shy about telling them they don't know what they are talking about---let them find out first hand. If the doctors think that he needs full time nursing care, you have two choices. Either figure out a way for him to get that care in the home with full time nurses (that may be paid for with Medicare?) so you can work and have a life, OR figure out a way to get more income or less expenses so you can survive on what you bring in with your job. That may mean moving to a smaller home, having the kids work, or cutting back on everything. It is a tough road that you have to take, but I am sure your husband would want you to do what makes life better for you and the kids and not worry about what happens to him, as he will be cared for either way. Good Luck
I have spent the last eight years of my life caring for my spouse who has progressive MS. He is at a point where the doctors are telling me I should consider long term nursing care. He has little to no mobility and suffers from decreasing cognitive abilities. I feel guilty about turning his care over to someone else, but yet I don't think I can take care of him the way he needs to be. He needs constant supervison and care. My siblings are telling me I shouldn't consider placing him in a nursing facility, but yet they offer no support of any kind. Not even the offer of watching him for a few hours while I run errands.
After several months of being unemployed, I'm finally working again full-time trying to keep the bare basics - food and shelter. I've been told if I decide to go the nursing home route, they will take my husband's disability check and I need that desperately to keep the roof over our heads.
I have four kids, two in college and two teenagers. I am only 42 years old and I feel as if I'm 92. I don't know what to do anymore.
Receive the latest news and tips in your inbox