I am dreading the long weekend

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thank you everyone. I'm just so tired...

My mother went through a stage pre-diagnosis that is common in Alzheimer's patients where she threw nearly everything away. Food, telephones, all important papers (including my Dad's death certificate and her marriage license) so tracking everything down has been a huge undertaking alone. It is so difficult to get a death certificate! I didn't even have my Dad's SS # as he has been dead for over fifteen years. We've been fighting to get her disability insurance from work to kick in but it has been a struggle and takes forever. We still pay her health insurance premiums (thank you Obama - they couldn't cut her off!) so she can still have good doctors and specialists but DH has to work extra hours to cover that expense as well. I wish we could afford a weekend aide for my Mom but we just can't right now.

We have a good elder attorney (again - more money spent) as I had to get Power of Attorney to even force her to come live with us - it's a long involved saga...

I'm looking into everything that I can. Most free Senior Centers will not take Alzheimer's sufferers because they tend to wander off.

Again, thanks for the empathy. I just have to get thru the next three days with my beautiful children and once loving and sane mother.

You can find your dads SS # online. I found my grandfather's shortly after the internet became popular. He died in the 80s. The SS # is public since he is dead. No one can use it for fraud.

[Anonymous]

OP, please know you are not alone. I have 11 year old twins and a mother with advanced stage Parkinson's who has psychosis, which are controlled by medication, and dementia. She is in assisted living and currently has long term care but it will run out in 3 years and I am not sure what will happen if she outlives her money because DH and I are paying for expensive private school for our twins who have mild special needs. It is very stressful watching my mother's steady decline. She walks with a walker and has severe stooped posture -- almost perpendicular to the ground. It is devastating to watch and talking to her is like talking to a 2 year old child. I am not sure which is worse Alzheimer's or Parkinson's. They are both so debilitating for the sufferer and the caregiver. Hang in there and know that you are not alone.