janetrose7
Caring for my mom Member since April 10, 2010I am caring for my mother who is 81 years old and suffered a stroke in 1988, which left her paralyzed on her left side and totally disabled. After some physical therapy, she learned to walk with a four-prong cane with a leg brace. She went through many caretakers, some of whom stole property and money. She ended up taking out loans on her home which was once paid off, without the family's knowledge of course, filed bankruptcy, sold her home and moved in with me in 1999. I have a brother and sister who could help out more, but seem satisfied to live their lives as normal while I caretake. I never had children but have had my rat terrier pup, Toby for 12 years, Roxy for 5 years and a cat, Lucy, who recently gave birth to 5 babies. I opted for an early retirement in 2002, so I went from a rather fat salary to being near poverty level and living on welfare (I mean retirement!), gave up health benefits because they cost me nearly half of my pension and now am in desperate need of dental treatment, my "kids" in need of veteranary care while Mom enjoys her fat pensions from my recently deceased father. They divorced some time before Mom's stroke, very unfortunately and needlessly, my Dad had been my main support cushion, the family rock. I have another sister who has had cerebral palsy since birth, and though I used to have her at least once a month for a week-end, now have little time to devote to her. I am her sole tie to the family, the only one who so much as visits her. I guess I am just the chosen one to be the family caretaker, though I would not have volunteered for the role.