Do you have any experience taking care of elderly relatives?

Question

I'm taking care of my grandmother. She can do everyday things for herself but the rest is up to me. Can you share your experiences?

Answer 1

In 1994 my grandmother came to live with me, my husband and 2 year old daughter. She had lived with my aunt until my aunt decided the money wasnt enough for her to put up with her and called me to come get her, she moved in with me and brought a brown paper bag that contained all of her belongings, my aunt sold or gave away everything else. Grandma about drove me nuts but in a good way. She was suffereing from bad dementia as well as copd, I couldn't leave her in the house alone for even 10 minutes for fear she would burn the house down so instead of one child I often felt as I had two. But the time I had with her is a gift I will always treasure. I found even in her mental state that when I went to fix supper just having her in the kitchen as my taster made her feel better, she suddenly remembered family recipes and had me write them down as she did. She would sit in her recliner and cuddle with my daughter and look at the picture books with her or help me with my flowers. She would sit with me at night when the others were asleep and tell me stories about my mother when she was small or my grandfather that I loved with all my heart. The key to taking care of your grandmother is not to ever allow it to feel as if it is a burden instead look at it as an opportunity to learn all you can and treasure the time you have together. My grandmother died July24, 1997 and never saw my other children born but they know her because of the memories I have and when she died I was still right there at her side holding her hand. It was an exhausting and often challenging journey but one I would never trade for anything in the world.

Answer 2

it is not easy to do and there will be plenty of trying times with this. It is frustrating for both people involved and just remember that you are doing a good thing. It is not easy to care for someone who will more and more start to rely on you. Although, always keep people in mind that you can call just to "vent" too. Also, you have to keep in mind that its not easy for her either, she lived a long time being the one taking care of people and its hard on them to have to be taken care of..

Answer 3

U must have fidelity-my mother was smelling bad in her last days-i did not feel that smell when i think about what she gave me -pleasures by bringing me to this world. i thought about my self and my last days. the smell was gone. so when u havfe affection u will not hate ur old relations. i took care of my motherin law who acted like my mother, I had immense plesure to tke care of her. u kmust be faithful to ur elders.

Answer 4

NO, thank God.