She has been living with me for 3 weeks and she has advanced dementia, she also has high blood pressure which is what landed her in hospital in the first place. I took a leave from my job so she could stay with my family till we found long term care, but the dr said it would be better to leave her in hospital because it was too hard on me, which it is, because she wanders at night and doesn't know who I am! Now im heading back to work soon and I am so sad and full of guilt. Did I do the right thing? I will add that I have not been close to my parents in years. Dad is in hospital near death.
Of all the emotions that you might benefit from feeling in this difficult time, guilt is BY FAR the most useless.
They are both tragically ill. You have done everything you could do. You chose the most generous gesture of leaving your own routine on your mother’s behalf.
If a DOCTOR told you that the choices you have made, AGAIN putting her needs before your own, are too much FOR YOU, he means JUST THAT, and he would certainly not say that if it were at any risk of harm to his own patient.
Please release the useless guilt and be at peace in the realization that whether or not you have been close to your parents, this, your final act of caring, has given them what they need to transition at peace themselves.
You have every right in the world to be sad. It's hard on anyone to see their parents like this. You weren't too close to your parents and now there is no chance of changing it, or their admitting whatever mistakes they made while raising you. It's hard to accept there won't be a way to make things right before they pass away.
It can't happen with them, but it can happen with YOU. You're still here and can let that pain go, and bury it, so to speak, with your parents. If you have your own family now, you can break the cycle and not pass down the burdensome feelings.
If you are not able to do dedicated 24/7 care this is how it has to be. You are not feeling guilt, but the other G word, which is grief. Guilt is for felons who do evil deeds for the joy of doing them. Grief is for those who are human and have a life and limitations. There is pain; you will grief as will she. Isn't this loss and pain worth grieving?
If the doctor said that it is best she remain in the hospital then that is where she should be. It is not often that a doctor will tell someone they have to stay. The medical professionals now have a goal to discharge not to keep someone. Insurance companies do not like paying the hospital so they have guidelines that have to be followed. If there is not a medical reason to keep your mom the will not keep her.
You are doing the right thing. Get on the Hospital Social Worker to locate a place where your mom will be safe and cared for.