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I've asked for guidance from you all before on this particular subject but in the last 9 months she has gotten staples in her head, bumps a broken wrist,bruises,scrapes and now has stitches in her arm because her dog wakes her up to either get a drink at night(She takes melatonin and clonapin at night which makes her like a zombie) or go to the bathroom she won't sleep w/o them obsessed with these dogs I am at the end of my rope her well being is truly at risk from falls at night I am her only caregiver and obviously need to sleep too plus I have 2 kids 5&11 school is starting I can't be up all night babysitting (rather dog sitting) i know it would upset her greatly to get rid of them but I can't do my job with the dogs under her feet or waking her up all night(fall risk at all times she has alcohol and head injury induced dementia) i am getting pissed tht i have to see her get injured over these stupid dogs does anyone have any suggestions this woman ONLY cares about her.dogs and they will eventually b the death of her or she will end up with a serious broken bone or another head injury ease someone HELP!!!

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I have a little different take on this than I would have had before reading "Being Mortal."

Yes, try the practical solutions such as a doggie door, or a less drastic solution like keeping them out of her room at night, taking the dogs for a walk right before bedtime, etc.

But don't get rid of them.

She ONLY cares about her dogs. That is what makes life worthwhile for her. If they are the death of her, well, she is going to die of something and going out because of the one thing she cares about might be better than living as she is now plus being without her beloved dogs.

Taking melatonin and clonapin would certainly put her in a zombie state, at least for a few hours. I'm surprised the dogs can wake her up. But if that is the way she wants to live out the end of her life, so be it.
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Could the dogs be kenneled at night? Our dog goes out before bedtime, sleeps in his kennel and is let out in the AM. Then she could walk to the bathroom at night without dogs underfoot to trip her, and sleep wouldn't be interrupted.
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Is it possible to install a doggy door so the dogs can relieve themselves ?

It was only in final year or so when she became too stiff that my childhood dog didn't use the doggy door and she always had a bowl of fresh water on the back porch
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If she gets stressed without the dogs let her keep them. They are most likely the one thing she has to live for. She doesn't care if she has bruises - she loves her dogs more than disliking her being bothered by them. Sometimes you have to let them do what they want even if they're health is at risk. She'd probably be dead than live without them .
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I thought she meant the dogs had to go to the bathroom? If this is the case a nice walk before bed could help.. even my 5 pounder can hold it all night if she has a walk. Otherwise I might have to lay it on the line the dogs no longer sleep with mom.. that or they go! She may listen to this. Although with dementia you may never get this point across. And they may whine and bark.. do you have a garage they could overnight in?
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Please don't put the blame on the dogs - they are honestly the only innocent ones in the situation.
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Why are you her only caregiver? Isn't this your grandmother in-law? Where is your husband in all of this? She's HIS grandmother, after all.

I see that you live in her house. Why can't you move out?

What I've read here before is that it could be construed that she is in an unsafe living environment, even with your family living with her.
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Yes i am her ONLY caregiver (god help me)Sliding glass doors prevent the dog door as it is the only access to fenced yard and she closes them in her room at night, she gets extremely stressed when u remove the dogs to walk them or even take em to the groomer (my kids have tried to walk them and she has stress induced seizures and we cant afford more brain damage)they carry on like maniacs just putting them in her room to take her to non dog friendly places(dr,store,salon,ect) and my husband works full time i WAS gonna go back to work this year my youngest starts kindergarten TOMORROW so that isn't happening now, no help from her kids she got her original head Injury under the care of one of the d*cks and a second mistreated and robbed her,my husbands mom is selfish as all h*ll(famous line "i need a life too") and i dont want her to be gravely injured in my care i have kids to raise and cant do sh*t with them as it is and what good am I as their mom being investigated if she was seriously injured at night in MY CARE(a couple of her kids would be sure to get that ball rolling since they can't use her anymore) I told her I would put.them in my room at night she flipped old what else to do ? I have genuinely tried but all I can end up picturing is finding her dead or half dead in the am and those stupid dogs laying with her oblivious to the situation. It all sound's like a lose lose situation and I def don't want my husband to resent me because of it all I dont know anymore I need solid trusted advice without GUILT smh I feel like a jerk thinking about getting rid of them but what is more important? The.love she has for her dogs or her health?
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