Things were absolutely crazy the last week at my Dad's. I had two friends planning to come out to help finish clearing the house and pack my dad, however, one had a work emergency and came two days late. However, they were both fantastic and did a ton. One of them even drove my dad's car north (a 16hr drive). There is no way I could have managed it all without them. I have the best friends in the world, no doubt. My dad's house doesn't close until March 31st and there's still a few details to sort, but for now I'm home.
My dad is driving me insane asking 100 questions a day and sticking to me like glue (nothing new). It has been almost 1/2 a year I've been his care giver as I initially flew down mid-August when my mom went in the hospital. It is tough, because in some ways he is still functioning OK, but in other ways he is like a toddler. I am quite ill now that I'm home. The first day back was Okay, the second day I felt pretty ill and crashed, the third day back I felt even worse.
I have no patience for my dad, then feel horrible about the way I treat him. This morning he got up early and banged around making noise and woke me up. Then told me he had a big emergency and it was just that he was three days out from being out of glucosimine. Then he fed the dog but didn't tell me so she had two breakfasts. Then he went out in -20 windchill to clean his car without mitts or a hat.
He wants permission to do anything. When my roommate offered to go buy groceries for the week (I asked her if she would take him along) he instantly said no, he couldn't go (he doesn't want to do anything without me). I made him go and he enjoyed himself.
How can I stick my father in a "home"? On the positive, it is four blocks away and he is social and needs constant attention and validation so maybe he will be happy after a transition period? I've never been a parent so am not used to the huge burden of deciding things for other people. For my mom, I was her POA and decision maker. I had to give the hospital permission not to treat her final infection. With my dad, I'm doing all his financial and personal decision making and it's a huge huge weight. And I am so so so so exhausted.
