Hello Everyone,
I am an adult only child caring for 90 yo mom with multiple medical issues/modalities. The three which I refer to as the 'triple threat' are Diabetes, Dementia, and Heart, along with lesser issues that impact self-care, mobility, etc. and cause physical pain.
For 3+ years, I've painstakingly developed a care plan to keep mom in the home for as long as possible. During this time, I have felt the deepest sorrow, pain, fear, resentment, and guilt tempered with fleeing moments of interest, peace, and joy. I've developed, not perfected, a sense a acceptance, tolerance, disconnecting, and letting go in order to keep up the good fight. There are so many obstacles to navigate like family, healthcare professionals/providers, elder care 'systems', etc. I get lost in the world of caregiving leaving little to no time for self-care, reflection, and projecting my future.
Within the past few years’ mom has been hospitalized multiple times due to one or another medical condition, each time her overall health declines but she can’t see it (anosognosia). I live in a perpetual state of 'maintenance' 24/7 of persons/things that are not of myself. My last-ditch effort to restore myself is to change my perception (way of thinking) to be aligned with current experiences not tied to pain or result in negative responses. My now, new motto is Let it go, Let it be while I take care of me.
PEACE ☮️
