I am wondering what everyone else does with their elderly parents.. My sister & I have taken turns having dad live in our home and if we are too tired to make a meal he won't fix himself anything to eat and he won't eat. Should we feel guilty for not putting a meal in front of him or is it ok once in awhile if we're too tired to cook?my sister has 6 kids and a husband and some nights she doesn't feed anybody they sort of fend for themselves but my dad won't even fix anything and he is perfectly capable of getting himself something to eat.we have finally after 4 months I got him back to being fairly healthy and eating 3 meals a day snacks and drinking enough water so I imagine one missed meal won't be that bad but in my sister's case this may happen 3 times a week.what do you all think?
Best wishes!
At least get him some protein drinks and bars - that's what my father eats between meals.
@terrygma - don't feel guilty about missing a meal now and then. It's not like he's going the whole day without eating, he'll be fine.
freqflyer, "take away their recliner!" them's fightin' words, gal! Don't you DARE think about messin' with my recliner!
As for Dad not being willing to fix himself supper, is he from a marriage where your Mom did that for him? I know men my age who are lost if their wives leave town unexpectedly and haven't pre-prepared and frozen a dinner for each night. Personally I think that's nuts, but my hubby knows how to cook and do laundry. We have one friend whose wife had a stroke recently and her husband swears he has no idea how to do laundry or fix himself a meal. My husband asked if I'd make some casseroles for the guy. I said I'll do it when his wife comes home to help HER, but he can make a sandwich if he's hungry.
So as far as your dad is concerned, I see nothing wrong with telling him you're not going to make a big dinner, but you have X, Y and Z in the fridge if he wants to make himself something. Then see what he does. I promise, he won't go hungry for long.