My dad passed 9/25 after being in hospice at home for a couple months. He was almost 80. My mom is late 60’s. They were together for over 50 years. Dad had been sick for years to the point that I uprooted my life almost five years ago and moved in to help take care of them. I did this after my dad was rushed to the hospital due to severe COPD and was diagnosed with CHF. While he was in hospital he died twice and was revived. I was thankfully there with her when she got that call.
We brought dad home and it was a long recovery from the broken ribs from CPR. He tried to rally, but was so weak. He only left the house to go to doctor appointments and to the hospital.
Things slowly got worse.
In June, he was admitted to the hospital again because he fell and broke his hip. He refused surgery in fear of dying. However, shortly after he entered hospice. He spent the last 2ish months in a hospital bed in the living room.
My mom was alone with him when he passed. My partner found her trying to make a phone call while sobbing on the floor next to my dad’s bed. Although I was running errands for my mom at the time, I had to pull over to cry. I looked at my clock and found out later that was when he passed. Then my mom called. She didn’t tell me he passed and when I asked wouldn’t confirm. I made it home safely and she was a wreck.
I know she needs time to grieve and I don’t want to push her. But she hasn’t told anyone my dad has passed. Not even my brother. My brother said some horrible things about my dad and my mom and him fought about it three years ago. He called my dad four times in those 3 years and has never spoken to my mom in that time. She said if I tell him she will kick me out.
She is also not eating. She spends most of her time in her chair cuddling with the cats. She has never been the sit around type, to the point that watching tv with her was hard because she would get up four or five times in a 30 minute show. Now she watches tv for hours straight without moving.
Up until I moved in to take care of my parents, my mom and I butted heads constantly. We’ve even had some issues while I have lived here. So I am trying to be gentle with her.
She needs to have a couple surgeries that she put off to care for my dad, but she is in no shape to try to have it right now.
I am so worried I am going to lose her too. I told my dad I’d take care of her and feel like I am letting him down. I am trying my best but it’s not enough. My partner is also trying to help. She eats a little every few days. She is obviously starving as she eats really fast and she will even admit she feels better afterwards. But I don’t think she wants to feel better.
I also feel like I have been spending so much time caring for her I haven’t had time to grieve myself. My dad was my first best friend. I gave up spending time with friends when I was younger to spend time with him. We spent most weekends together until I was in my 20’s. I came over to watch football with him most weekends for the last 6 years before I moved back. It was a 45 minute drive each way. At one point I even would stay the night if it was a late game. That is what happened when he was hospitalized the first time. I stayed because it was a late game, dad had a doctor appointment the next day so I said I would stay at the house until they got home. Mom called and said she was taking him to the hospital. I called my partner and told him I was going to stay and help out my mom. I ended up staying over 3 months. Went home for a couple months, then ended up moving in.
I’m sorry for the rambling, I am just at a loss. What do I do? I am scared and exhausted. I have my own medical problems and this is making them worse.
I also need to leave her home alone on Friday for hours and know it’s gonna be rough for her.
Is there ANYTHING I can do?