|
Iowa | The case I am most familiar with was primarily dementia along with several other health problems. The individual also drank a little, but the drinking did not get to be really big problem until he lost the mental capacity to keep it under control. He had the neurological problems for more than ten years before seeing a specialists. By that time he did not really comprehend what the appointment was for, just happened go along with it. It's not like you can legally just throw someone like that into a cage like a barn cat going to the vet.
Things seemed normal to those on the outside looking in. Most everyone was in denial from the beginning, thought he was way "too young" to have that sort of problem, and some who should have known better were more inclined to blame me if I pushed the issue. When you are the only one there to pick up the pieces on a daily basis, you don't have the luxury of denial. It was a thankless job to say the least. I was young when I got into that mess, but was no longer young by the time it was over. In some ways, it never really is over.
It used to be whenever one of these threads was started, most people would jump in and say the parent was "too young" to be having these issues and the person must be some kind of a jerk for overreacting. It seems now people are a little more inclined to think twice before making those sort of knee jerk, self righteous remarks.
| |
|
"elderly" parent making bad choices!!!!
