I am 29 years-old with a great husband, home and one year-old. I am my grandmother's POA and have handled everything for her because my parents are deadbeat drug addicts. Her dementia has recently worsened, not to the point of wandering off, but she has absolutely no short-term memory. She calls me upwards up 40 times a day, hysterically crying because she can't remember where she is - I had to put her in a nursing home. We have a guest room in our basement and she has social security income that could cover a caregiver coming a couple times a week. She would be much happier with us and it's getting to the point where I dread answering her calls and visiting her because she's just so upset. I feel terrible I don't know what to do. I work from home, my mother in law comes over 2-3 times a week to watch my son. I could realistically have her live with us, we have the space, but my husband is vehemently against her moving in with us and thinks it's way too much work. I just don't know what to do.
If you are still on the fence thinking you could easily take care of Grandmother and the rest of the household here's an idea..... spend 24 days each at the nursing for 3 days.... usually when there are visitors to see someone who has dementia, that patient some how are able to be very social and sweet, but they can't keep that up for 24 hours straight.
By you spending 3 days straight in the nursing home, you will get a first hand look at what all needs to be done.