Welcome!

By registering with us, you'll be able to talk about mental health issues and build connections with like minded people.

SignUp Now!

Admitting for long-term care

HikerShawn

HikerShawn

Member
Joined
Dec 11, 2025
Messages
45
I have a friend who was forced to admit his last living parent to a specialized nursing home that dealt with patients with dementia and mental illnesses. In his parent's case, they had dementia and schizophrenia.

He was very depressed because he couldn't do it anymore.

But dealing with something experiencing both would be pretty draining to your own mental health.

If you were in the same situation, would you consider doing what he did or trying to just keep caring for your parent?
 
I think I’d probably make the same choice. Caring for someone with both dementia and schizophrenia is incredibly draining, and sometimes placing them in a specialized facility is the best way to ensure they get proper care while also protecting your own mental health. It doesn’t mean you love them any less.
 
If I were in that situation, I think I would seriously consider a specialized nursing home. Caring for someone with both dementia and schizophrenia can be emotionally and physically exhausting, and one person alone may not be able to provide the level of care they need. Professional facilities have trained staff, medical supervision, and structured support that can be very important for complex conditions.

Choosing that option doesn’t mean abandoning a parent. In many cases, it’s a responsible decision made out of care, while also protecting your own mental health. You can still stay involved, visit often, and support them while ensuring they receive the specialized help you may not be able to provide at home.
 
I haven't been in the same situation as this, but my mum was with my dad for quite some years. My dad was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, and he also had slight dementia and a form of parkinson's disease. For the longest time, my mum tried to look after my dad on her own, but it was affecting not only her physical health but her mental health, too.

Eventually, my mum was able to get carers in for my dad, but they would only come in in the morning and in the evening, meaning my mum was the main carer for the rest of the time each day, and after a while, it got too much for her, and she was ignoring her own health. In June of last year, she got admitted into the hospital with seriously low sodium levels and was then diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer that was incurable. Due to that, she had to make the tough decision to put my dad into a care home as she could not cope anymore, and it upset her so much as he always said he never wanted to end up in a care home.

Sometimes you have got to do what is best for you and if you start to struggle, they will struggle and suffer too, and having them be cared for by others as hurtful as it may seem, is always the best option.

Both are now together after my dad passed in July 2025 and my mum in January 2026, and before my mum passed, we made sure she knew that she was absolutely amazing for how she helped my dad.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Online statistics

Members online
0
Guests online
3
Total visitors
3
Totals may include hidden visitors.

Trending content

Stay Connected

Back
Top