My friend’s mother in law has been estranged from her, and her husband (the woman’s son) for about 10 years, due to the fact that she seemed uninterested in being a grandma to her (now) 3 grandkids, or maintaining a relationship with my friend’s hubby, her son.

This woman and her husband, her 2nd husband, not the father of my friend’s husband, have been living in an alcoholic haze for about 25 years. The alcoholic 2nd husband died last year, unbeknownst to my friend and her hubby, because they’ve been estranged. They found out from other relatives.

The fire department called my friend and her hubby a few months ago to say that the MIL had fallen, and was now in a rehab center in another state.

As a side note, this woman’s daughter is a heroin addict, who has been spongeing off of her (the mother) for years, and wants nothing to do with her, now that she needs care.

My friend, and her husband are handling this lady’s care now. It’s been a mess, and a financial nightmare.

The woman is only in her mid 60’s, but due to her chronic alcoholism, she seems like a disabled person in her 90’s.

Have any of you had to deal with a relative who was a chronic alcoholic, in which their care was put into your hands?

Topics: alcoholism, caregivers, familial estrangement, medical directives, dealing with serious illness