2025 - December 20
With tears and a very heavy heart, my family and I made the painful decision to place our mother in a nursing home for a 7 days trial. The emotions are overwhelming and hard to describe. This decision was not made out of a lack of love, but because I have reached the limit of what I can emotionally and mentally handle.
Our 83 years old mother is living with dementia, and her condition has caused her to become extremely anxious about her body. Almost every day, especially in the mornings, she insists on seeing an anus specialist, believing that her anus is blocked and that she cannot pass stool. Despite repeated reassurance from doctors that she is medically stable, her fear persists. She has been diagnosed with slow bowel movement syndrome, which is common among elderly individuals, yet she continues to seek medical attention for the same concern.
As her dementia has progressed, she often becomes emotionally distressed. Many times, she throws tantrums, becomes verbally aggressive, and curses at us. These outbursts are not intentional, but they are deeply painful and exhausting for the family. The constant demands, emotional swings, and repeated doctor visits have taken a heavy toll on me.
I carry deep guilt admitting this, but I can no longer cope on my own. Placing her in a nursing home was the hardest decision we have ever made, yet we believe it is the safest option for her and for us. We continue to love her, even as we grieve the mother we once knew.
