My 82 year old grandmother has just come to live at my parents and I's house. I'm 16 by the way. My grandmother lived in india all of her life and this is only the second time she has been to America. She can not be left alone because she has back problems and still thinks she is in her old house in India and she tries to go outside. I can tell my parents are stressed. They are 50 and 56 years old. they have work but they still make sure someone is with her. I try to help but it is hard because i dont speak her language and i suffer from a mild depression. Just seeing my grandmother not remembering things and thinking she is still in India is sad to me. I know this isn't a very good question. I'm just lost.
As far as the actual caregiving, please know you will have limitations to help in this way, possibly making sure Gma has some company now and then... is she able to help you learn the language, if not, go online and learn some of the basic communications.... I feel that would be to your advantage...
And ask Mom and Dad how you can help... I doubt they will expect you to do any 'hands on ' care... do you know how to cook? Possibly making a meal once in awhile, or helping with the chores around the house... which I'm pretty sure you do already....
They are probably trying to protect you from having to do much of anything as they want you to be a 'teenager' doing what teenagers do, and to not be burdened with this...
Just try talking with them... asking them how you can help... if nothing else they are going to be proud of the outstanding young woman they have raised... come back and let us know things are for you..... it is stressful for you too, and we are here for you.... you will get a lot of support here... so hugs to you, and I hope you find some things to lighten their load.....but not add to yours....
I wondered if you live in a city that has a large population of people from India. Many cities do. It sounds like your grandmother may have dementia, since she thinks she is still in India. Maybe she will feel more at home if there are people who speak her language. Just a thought -- I don't know if resources (churches, civic groups) exist in your city.
I wish I had some ideas for you. The only one I have is to try to continue your life as before as much as you can. This is an adult situation, so depend on your mother and father to handle the worst parts. If you can learn your grandmother's language, she may have much to teach you. Learning the language will also be a great asset to you in the future. (If I had it to do over, I might have chosen linguistics as a career. The potential is amazing -- travel, high salaries, high demand for talents. Perhaps you can even turn this troubling situation to your future advantage.)