Caring for adult son
Watch this postWe have cared for our son for 20 years during a diagnosed severe mental illness. There has never been a day in that 20 years that we it has not infringed on our daily life and how we wished things could be different.
One of the main problems is his lack of insight and reasoning into his condition.
He has his own secure tenancy and when the Covid lockdown started we were left completely on our own to care for him. Even although my husband is over 70 and I have other health problems.
Because of his vulnerability and his disbelief in the pandemic he was a target for unsavoury people with no protection to visit his flat putting us in danger. It was inevitable he would need to be hospitalised which was horrific and he has been in a psychiatric unit for 5 months. It has now been suggested that they will let him home if we care for him but my husband and I have said we will only do it if we get the vaccine. We have been told we will not get it and it was even suggested by one doctor that we are being selfish to not do it and let him home.
What do others think?
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Apologies if you have done this already but like many issues its a post code lottery as to the support on offer.
I understand your difficulties and wish you all the best.
We are heart broken. You cannot ever stop being a parent no matter how old they get. He is a highly gifted person academically and artistically and it is so sad that in this day and age that there are no better resources ti help him and us. They have recently done away with any out of hours support which is scandalous.too.
I am so sorry to hear what has happened regarding your son. I am not experienced enough to offer much advice only to say they will be an advocacy service in your area who would appointment an advocate to work on his behalf.
I would insists that all 3 of you have individual assessments via social services to assess the needs of each of you. It would then be a legal duty of Social Services to provide each person with a care package I believe.
This will give a clear indication of what the needs are for each person. No one can make you take on the care of your grown son. Just say No and keep saying it if it is too much for you as long term you will perhaps make yourselves ill in the process.
Take care of yourselves don't feel guilty if it is not what you want say No.
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