Reply To: Help for elderly/infirm

[Lupin]

Rob,
I know this probably sounds awful but it occurs to be that somewhere in the day to day of looking out for your Mum you need to remember that you own it to yourself to make sure that you look after you and remember that “no” is a complete sentence! Sometimes taking on responsibilities for another has unintended consequences such as that person acquiring “learned helplessness” or not taking responsibility where it is possible for them to do so. This may be totally off beam, but you have so much to deal with as it is, I though it worth taking the risk. Feel free to tell me “mind my own”, it’s just that I am rubbish about taking care of myself when others close to me need help and I have noticed that it’s an awfully familiar trait with lots of chronic painters!

Lupin