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I need some input from others on something I'm facing...

I am a caregiver for two 99 year olds with dementia. I work two hours in the morning and two hours at night, that is all they want to pay me for.

My responsibilities were light cleaning, organizing, some cooking, laundry, appointments, driving and generally just being there as a personal assistant to the woman as it was her kids who brought me on.

I have gone above and beyond. Bought and made them things to help with vision and mobility problems.

Their children used to have someone clean for them and stopped without telling me so I've had to take over all the cleaning. They send me condescending messages about the extra help even though I don't charge for it.

A lot of the times everything I do gets messed up instantly because they are confused.

The man is mean, yelling, abusive and the woman is very confused. They stress each other out. It's a hostile environment.

I have tried reaching out to their families, I have attended their memory care appointments and I do my best but I am not a nurse. These people need more care than I can give and I'm getting verbally abused daily because they want me to do more in a few hours than I can do and I am legally allowed to do.

It is a mess.

My dilemma is, do I call social services?

I have stopped contacting their families because they are all in denial. Or perhaps they don't want to put up the money for assisted living. Either way, they are rude and dismissive when I bring up issues that I need them to address as I'm not able.

I'm at a complete loss here. I am running myself ragged and being yelled at for hours each day. Then the families tell me everything is fine.

I consider this abuse and neglect for the elderly couple and I feel abused too tbh.

I don't know how to handle it. I don't want to quit because the poor woman is defecating everywhere and hallucinating and confused but still a sweet woman. She appreciates my patience and how I listen to her. I'm afraid for her. The man and his family are very vindictive. The families do not get along and I'm tired of being in the middle, trying to peace keep and getting treated horribly.

I don't know what the right thing to do is. I don't want to turn my back on the woman. She is afraid and I know I'm a huge comfort to her. But this is all affecting me negatively.

If anyone has any understanding or advice, I would truly appreciate it.

Thank you.
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SageWanderer · 70-79, M
You need to contact social services, despite all your doing the family is guilty of elder abuse as far as I’m concerned.
ScreamingFox · 41-45, F
@SageWanderer I think so too. It feels severe to say it but it's true. Thank you hun