My mother-in-law (in her 80's) was diagnoised within the past year. She lives at home with her husband, They live within 3 blocks of our home, thank goodness! So -- when she calls me in a panic I can be there within five minutes. (IF I'm not at work) She is rapidly declining and gets confused very easiy. My delima - My husband and I "WERE" constantly commicating to his sisters (who live out of the area and state) that a caregiver is needed when "DAD" is out of the house for hours at a time. Our concerns fall on deaf ears. Mom does not eat right, or drink enough, forgets to take her meds and when she calls in a panic because she can't find Dad - Who has been gone for 4 hours - I am left to try and calm her down and to try to answer all her repeated questions. "Where is Dad?" "Why did he leave?" "When will he be home?" Any suggestions? "The sisters" have approached Mom and Dad with the need for a caregiver - but both Mom and Dad are adamant that "Dad can take care of her!"

My husband cannot find enough patience anymore to deal with this. Any other suggestions?

Hi there
Welcome to the forum.
The caregivers forum gets a lot more traffic than this one, which I think is mainly used to set up chats. If you didn't get to "chat" today, try the caregivers forum.

Jellybeans - thanks for the info! Once I'm more familiar with this site I'll know where to go to get to the most helpful posts.

No problem
I don't have any advice for the issues you mentioned, otherwise I would have offered my suggestions here.
You'll get a lot of information and support from the people here who have been through something similar.

Dear 123456,

Hello and Welcome to the AD Message Boards.
Sounds like you and your hubby will need to assist Mom and Dad with hiring other caregivers to be there when Dad cannot. Either that or gather your family together for a meeting of the minds and get Mom and Dad some help. You MIL is NOT in a safe environment! They both need help.

Please contact your local AD Assn for guidance/help. Also, your Council on Aging may be able to assist you with some help.

MIL cannot be left alone anymore. It is NOT safe for her!

Good Luck. Please, come back and let us know how everyone is doing.