Good Morning, I’m in my early 60s, made a career transition from communications into health philanthropy. I’m also a fiber artist. I have one older brother who lives 3 hours from me. I’m a lifelong caregiver for my mother who was diagnosed in the last 3 years with histrionic PD, unresolved PTSD from childhood trauma of WW2, grief and depression from the loss of a family member who she was highly emotionally dependent upon before he died in 2015. None of this was news to me. I’m still learning to cope with her manic behavior and now she is experiencing early dementia. She can behave quite abusively and I’ve learned to stand up and let her know when it’s not acceptable for me and why I am leaving the moment with her. She is still motivated with a learning mind, yet succumbs to depression and isolation. She lives 45 minutes away in a (sweet) low income apartment complex nestled in a very affluent community. I found her home after waiting a couple of years, after she was forced to leave her home which became uninhabitable. She was in dire living conditions and was caught in the payday loan debt cycle. That was 13 years ago. I also relocated her into a new county system was appointed her representative payee. I oversee the part time in-home care giver and all her basic living expenses. She has a strong personality and I feel she’s lucky to have so much support. I try to not control her everyday life. My brother is less engaged From the day to day events of my mothers care. I’ve learned that I can be angry with the sick behavior, and not the individual. But at times it can be very difficult to also have a life of my own too. She is 86 yrs. We’ve always had a rocky relationship, I have learned to take the good with the bad. I’m glad I found this forum. Thank you!
