Or, you could be like my husband and I. My mom lives in a little house right here on our property that we built for her. We pay her electricity and water bills. She pays no rent. I take her to her doctor appointments, shopping, etc. She’ll be 80 this year and I’m glad we can do it. AND, we do this all on my hubbys income. I stay home, take care of her, and make sure my 16 year old son is on top of his on-line schooling everyday. Luckily, no Alzheimers. She has a number of malady’s, but still takes care of herself mostly. Does her own cooking, laundry, cleaning, etc. I couldn’t imagine putting her in a home.
I think it’s great how you live, giving mom a bit of independence while seeing to her needs. Love it.
One point I really need to make on something you said. Please don’t EVER say to ANYONE “I’d never put my parent into a home.” Even if it is true. The reason I say that is because alzheimers takes away a person’s personality or self control or many other functioning ways. I’m on an alzheimers caregiver list, and because of that line, that every loving child thinks about his own parents, good people are being beaten down literally and figuratively, keeping their spouses or parents home at all costs.
There comes a time when they just can’t do the heavy work any more. I won’t go into all the terrible experiences, that can go on 24/7, that a caregiver can suffer when their loved one is deep down the alzheimers path. You can imagine, and some of the experiences are far worse than you can imagine. But it’s time we ALL started caring for the caregivers in our neighborhoods. Trust me, they are struggling. Some actually die before their affected partners because it’s too much for them.
Luckily my parents could afford full time at home round the clock care. Not everyone can. Sometimes people physically simply can’t do it any more. I’m just saying, because I’m getting to know that world. Sometimes there is no other way than a home for the memory impaired. It helps to have neutral people help.