Sorry if this is too long but I'm at my wits end with my 68 yo Mom... She has a history of alcohol abuse, is mixing her meds with it and falling asleep with a lit cigarette causing 3rd degree burns. We've had talks about her going into assisted living but with covid that isn't possible right now.
She was sent to ER last night bc she didn't go immediately after she burnt herself. She's fallen quite a few times recently and is just cognizent and charming enough as a former nurse to talk her way out of what's actually going on with her at the doc's office or hospital.
I spoke to attending nurses at ER last night about what really happened and she denied it all, being released home last night to be home by herself. My sister lives with her part time but is fed up. Mom is recently divorced from my father, her sister passed away a few mths ago, and has no real family left. She has been suicidal her whole life and she has mentioned to me recently that she's giving up and has nothing left to give.
I don't know how to proceed to help or keep her/my sister safe in their home. Any direction or advice is SO appreciated TIA.
Sounds to me your mother suffers from depression. She needs to treat her mental health first because that's the root cause of her destructive behavior.
If I were in your situation, I'd get her to see a good specialist who can treat her depression.
It's sad that your mother thinks she has no real family left. She has two daughters that really care about her. I am guessing you're a daughter, correct me if I'm wrong.