What alternatives do I have?
Hello,
I am caring for my mentally disabled older, adult sister. Our parents are deceased. My father was taking care of her before he passed away. I took her because she had no place else to go and until I could get her into a residential facility. I've gone through DDA to obtain housing for her but they tell me the funding is limited to extreme cases, such as the elderly and those who have no one else to take care of them.
I'm a single parent. This has taken its toll on me emotionally, physically and financially. I'm stressed, depressed and sick. This has also affected my son. My parents always took care of my sister and did for her so she doesn't do anything or know how to do anything. My sister is afraid to go into her room (I don't know why, she says she doesn't know) so she stays in my living room all day, every day from about 5am to 11pm. After 11pm, she walks around for a bit and opens and closes doors. She mostly sleeps in the living room and watches tv. She's thrown the remote at my son when I forced her to give him the remote so he can watch tv. Now he won't go into the living room without me. I've told her and fought with her but she won't budge. It is unfair to us that she takes over the living room like this. My son is uncomfortable in his own house!
Financially, it's a strain because I have another mouth to feed and she goes with us everywhere.
It's that issue, plus she can't stay by herself. I'm self employed and I have to turn down out of state work because I can't leave her alone. Either that or pay for another plane ticket which gets expensive. I don't think I should be turning down work in this economy. I enjoy contract work because of the independence, but I've decided to look for full time employment. So, now I have to give up something I love and adjust my lifestyle for her. She needs to be somewhere where she can learn to be independent and accountable.
I've made an appointment to talk to her service coordinator again to stress that she needs to go where she can be better served. I didn't tell her everything I've mentioned above but I think I will this time.
But my question is if funding isn't available from the state, then what other alternatives are there for residential housing for her? Does she have to stay with me until it becomes available?
Sorry for the long post. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!