My question is has anyone experienced caregiver burnout which resulted in the caregiver getting too sick to care for the family member? I've been taking care of my 91 yo mother with stage five Alzheimers. I have been a full-time caregiver working 133 hours a week and that is minus 5 hours a day for sleep (35 hours a week) and if I don't get any sleep 168 hours a week give or take for the last four years. I don't sleep much because my mother has sundown syndrome. I am working over time trying to place her in a memory care unit and its has been most difficult me. So, while the wheels of medicare turn slowly and all the support community support helpers are also slowly doing their part in coming, I am getting sicker and sicker and I can no longer care for her. So, my second question has anyone been sick enough as a caretaker to be placed in the hospital and if so what happens to aging family member?
As soon as she shows signs of becoming violent and you know what is likely to bring on that kind of behavior. Call 911 and request police and ambulance because she is out of control. Once she gets to the ER and continues to act up they will soon transfer her to a psych unit for evaluation.
If you are really physically sick with something that needs medical treatment immediately seek care. If possible be hospitalized. When they try and discharge Mom stand your ground and refuse to take her home. the staff will give you a hard time and may become quite nasty but don't back down, hard as it will be. By the way I am not suggesting that you are not physically sick or that is all in your mind. You did not tell us what you are sick with and certainly don't need to share that.
Basically what I am saying is that you are the only person who can find a way out of this mess, so bite the bullet with whatever strength you have left and don't let them run you over. You have rights too! Blessings.
I realize that a nursing home might not be your or Mom's choice, but there does come a time when changes do need to be made if one cannot budget for 24 hour care at home.
Yes, I had crashed and burned several times from exhaustion/stress with my 90+ parents. They forgot I was a senior citizen myself, not that 20 or 30 year old who had a ton of energy... and here I wasn't even living with them :P
All of the professionals will tell you not to let it get to that point. What they don't seem to be able to say is how.
Is there any chance at all of your being offered a respite break?