She's always been a heavy drinker, but since dementia has been drinking 24/7- She even gets up during the night for a drink. I have not provided wine for her since December when her bloodwork showed elevated levels in both blood sugar and liver. Sometimes she will walk the 4 blocks to the liquor store, other times she has it delivered.
That’s the problem. Unless she chooses to change, she won’t.
Is she safe to do so?
Does she live with you?
Are you her POA?
Is she competent or is the POA in effect, and do you consider at all that placement for her own safety may be needed.
I would discuss, if you are POA, with MD as a sudden cessation of drinking may cause reaction; she may require medication if there is abrupt withdrawal of alcohol at this point.
Wishing you good luck.
steep hill, tiny woman, her Daughter couldn't get her to quit it...
I have no idea how it worked out, my colleague and I haven't stayed in touch
Her Mom would go down there to shop and walk the scooter home with her bag on it
the moral of the story?:
I'm not sure how much worse it is leaving an alchy to their fate than it is to not somehow prevent the mom from killing herself coming down market st on a scooter at 75 years old...these may be equal
I am very sorry that you are going through this. My brother was an addict. He died with liver issues.
It’s difficult to watch someone destroy their life. I would join Al-Anon. It does help to speak with others who are in your situation.
Wishing you peace as you continue on I’m your caregiver journey
Comments:
- Unless your father remarried someone much younger, you would be in your 40s. Retiring at this age is quite dangerous for you in terms of your own future finances.
- She can ‘walk four blocks to the liquor store’ doesn’t sound compatible with ‘broken hip’ plus the other problems.
- If she starts drinking at 7am and doesn’t stop, surely she is an alcoholic? Surely she is incapable of walking anywhere by mid-afternoon?
- Interesting that her being an alcoholic isn’t on your list of her health issues.
- You give no information about who lives where and with whom, or what type of care Suzanne actually needs.
To me, this doesn’t all add up.
Yes, my father married somebody younger- she's only 10 years older than me. She did not break her hip at all- not sure where you got that idea. The entire question was regarding her alcohol consumption, so, yes, I am concerned about alcoholism.
Your MIL has decided her fate, sadly.
I've read many posts where people report positive experiences from such a support group.
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